Nightingale Microbiology Practice Exam

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp.

Scalp Hands Feet Nails

Correct Answer:

Scalp

Explanation:

Dermatophyte infections are named for the site they affect, and capitis specifically designates the scalp. Tinea capitis is therefore an infection of the scalp by dermatophytes that invade hair follicles, causing scaling and sometimes hair loss. The other sites—hands, feet, and nails—have their own name variants (manuum, pedis, unguium), so they describe infections at those locations rather than the scalp. In short, the scalp is the correct site because capitis means scalp involvement.

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