Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

Which burn type destroys the epidermis and dermis, including the nerve endings?

1. First-degree

2. Second-degree

3. Third-degree

4. Fourth-degree

The correct answer is: Third-degree

The correct answer is indeed third-degree burns. This type of burn is characterized by the damage it inflicts on all layers of the skin, which includes the epidermis and the dermis. In third-degree burns, the nerve endings are also destroyed, leading to a lack of sensation in the affected area. This is a critical aspect to understand, as individuals with this type of burn might not feel pain in the injured skin, even though surrounding areas may be extremely painful due to lesser degrees of burns. In contrast, first-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), causing redness and pain but not deep tissue damage. Second-degree burns involve both the epidermis and part of the dermis, leading to blistering and significant pain but do not destroy nerves. Fourth-degree burns extend beyond the skin into underlying tissues such as muscle and bone, resulting in significant damage and often necessitating more intensive medical intervention, but it is the third-degree burn that specifically encapsulates the destruction of both the epidermis and dermis, including nerve endings.