DEFINITIONS Flashcards
Define macule.
A flat, impalpable circumscribed area of skin, or an area of altered skin colour
Define papule.
A small, raised spot on the skin, often dome-shaped, which is less than 5mm in diameter
Define pustule.
A small, pus-containing blister in the skin
Define plaque.
A palpable flat lesion, greater than 5mm in diameter; may have well- or ill-defined borders
Define vesicle.
A very small (less than 5mm) blister in the skin, containing a clear fluid (serum)
Define bulla.
A large blister containing a clear fluid (serum)
Define ulceration.
A break in ALL layers of the skin, often accompanied by inflammation
Define telangiectasia.
A localised collection of distended blood capillary vessels; appearing as a red spot, sometimes spidery in appearance, that blanches on pressure
Define exfoliation.
Flaking off of the upper layers of the skin; separation of the surface epithelium from underlying layers of tissue
Define lichenification.
Thickening of the epidermis with exaggeration of the normal creases, thought to resemble tree bark; caused by abnormal scratching or rubbing of the skin
Define psoriasis.
A chronic, relapsing and remitting scaling skin disease which may appear at any age and affect any part of the skin
Define hyperkeratosis.
Thickening of the outer horny (keratinous) layer of the epidermis
Define erythematous psoriasis.
Psoriasis in which more than 90% of the body is erythmatous and scaly; patient may be acutely unwell
Define palmar/plantar pustulosis.
A chronic condition affecting the palms and soles, causing formation of sterile pustules associated with thickened, scaly red skin that easily develops painful cracks
Define onycholysis.
Separation or loosening of part or all of the nail from its bed
