Derm Terms ILM Flashcards
Macule
Small (you can see it, but can’t feel it)
ex: lentigo
Patch
large (>1 or 2? cm) flat discoloration
ex: bruise
Papule
small (<1cm) bump, palpable lesion
ex: small wart
Nodule
Large (>1cm), palpable
ex. nevus
Plaque
Large (>1, 2 cm) raised flat topped lesion, usually rough/scaly
Lesion is greater in diameter than it is high; may be formed from coalescing nodules or papules
ex: psoriasis
Vesicle
Small (<1cm) blister; elevated epidermis containing clear fluid
ex: herpes
Bulla
Large (>1cm) blister; elevated epidermis containing clear fluid
ex: bullous lemphigoid
Pustule
Pus filled bump; pus filled raised leasion, papular or nodular
ex: acne
Wheal
Raised smooth topped lesion; often with erythematous borders and pale centers; skin is unbroken
Sometimes called “welt”
ex: urticaria
Scale
Roughness at surface - represents hyperkeratosis histologically
ex: psoriasis
Crust
Dried plasma at surface - represents epithelial disruption
ex: eczema
Excoriation
Scratched area - often linear
Loss of epidermis - caused by scratching, picking, burns, etc
ex: eczema
Lichenification
Leathery thickening with accentuated skin markings
ex: chronically rubbed skin of eczema
Telangiectasia
Dilated capillaries visible through skin surface
ex: sun-damaged face
Onycholysis
Separation of nail from bed; may be due to trauma, psoriasis, fungal infection (onchomycosis) and other causes
ex: onychomycosis
Atrophy
Sunken thinned area of skin
Thinning of the skin; microscopically shows loss of rete ridges in epidermis; occurs with age
Long term corticosteroid use is a common iatrogenic cause of skin atrophy
ex: corticosteroid induced
Hyperkeratosis
thickening of stratum corneum
Orthokeratosis
thickening of stratum corneum without retained nuclei
Parakeratosis
retained nuclei in stratum corneum (not necessarily with thickening of strarum corneum, hyperkeratosis)
Hypergranulosis
increase in thickenss of granular layer
*may be associated with parakeratosis, not always
Acanthosis
thickening of epidermis
Papillomatosis
mountain and valley pattern in epidermis
Dyskeratosis
premature keratinization of keratinocytes
i.e. apoptosis of keratinocyte in basal or spinous layer of epidermis - called a Civatte body or colloid body
Apoptosis
single cell death in epidermis
Acantholysis
falling apart of keratinocytes - discohesion
Spongiosis
intercellular edema - between keratinocytes
Ballooning
intracellular edema of keratinocytes; also called hydropic change
often associated with viral infection
*note: edema is better used for extracellular fluid - not good word choice here
Exocytosis
lymphocytes migrating into epidermis
Erosion
stripping away of stratum corneum
Ulceration
complete loss of epidermis
Vacuolization
bubbly appearance of epidermal basal layer
Atrophy
loss of epidermal rete
Palisading
lining up of cells in a row
Acral (relating to distribution)
on the extremities especially fingers or toes but also ears or limbs
Dermatomal (relating to distribution)
A distribution restricted to one dermatome, such as in recurrence of the chickenpox virus as Shingles. A dermatome is an area of skin supplied by a single sensory spinal nerve. See Netter atlas for the dermatome pattern on the human body
Extensor surfaces (relating to distribution)
skin of the elbows and knees that is on the outside of the joint i.e. that is stretched when the joint is flexed
Flexural surfaces (relating to distribution)
skin within the flexure of elbows or knees
Intertriginous
areas where skin touches and/or rubs against other skin
e.g. in the axillae, under the breasts of women
