Dermatology - Terminology

Question 1

What size defines a ‘small’ primary lesion?

Answer 1

<0.5cm in diameter

Question 2

What size defines a ‘large’ primary lesion?

Answer 2

>0.5cm in diameter

Question 3

What is a small, flat lesion called?

Answer 3

A macule

Question 4

What is a large, flat lesion called?

Answer 4

A patch

Question 5

What is a small, raised lesion that contains no visible fluid called?

Answer 5

Papule

Question 6

What is a large, raised lesion called?

Answer 6

Plaque - usually flat topped

Question 7

What is a small, raised lesion filled with fluid called?

Answer 7

A vesicle

Question 8

What is a large raised lesion called with a deeper component?

Answer 8

A nodule

Question 9

What is a small, raised lesion filled with pus called?

Answer 9

A pustule

Question 10

What is a large, raised lesion filled with fluid called?

Answer 10

Bulla

Question 11

Define crust

Answer 11

Dried exudate (i.e. serum, blood, pus) on the skin surface

Question 12

Define scale

Answer 12

The accumulation or excess shedding of the stratum corneum

Question 13

Define excoriation

Answer 13

Loss of skin due to scratching or picking

Question 14

Define lichenification

Answer 14

Increase in skin lines and creases from chronic rubbing

Question 15

Define an erosion

Answer 15

A linear crack in the skin, often very painful

Question 16

Define a fissure

Answer 16

Superficial, open wound with a loss of epidermis or mucosa only

Question 17

What is a deep open wound with a partial or complete loss of epidermis or submucosa called?

Answer 17

Ulcer

Question 18

What part of the skin is lost in a fissure vs an ulcer?

Answer 18

Fissure → loss of epidermis or mucosa only

Ulcer → partial/complete loss of dermis or submucosa

Question 19

Define a wheal

Answer 19

Short lived (<24 hours), oedematous, well circumscribed papule or plaque seen in urticaria.

Question 20

What condition are wheals seen in?

Answer 20

Urticaria

Question 21

What is urticaria?

Answer 21

a raised, itchy rash that appears on the skin

Question 22

Define telangiectasia

Answer 22

Dilated, superficial dermal vessels

Question 23

Define atrophy of the skin

Answer 23

Thinning of the epidermal and/or dermal tissue

Question 24

Define fibrosis of the skin

Answer 24

Describes dermal scarring/thickening reactions.

Question 25

Define a keloid scar

Answer 25

An abnormal proliferation of scar tissues that overgrows the original wound boundary. Is chronic.

Question 26

Hypertrophic vs keloid scar?

Answer 26

Keloid - overgrows original wound boundaries

Hypertrophic - doesn’t overgrow original boundary

Question 27

What is a dilated hair follicle full of sebum/keratin called?

Answer 27

Comedone - can be open (blackhead) or closed (whitehead)

Question 28

What is a milium?

Answer 28

Small, superficial cyst containing keratin (usually 1-2mm in size)

Question 29

What are petechiae?

Answer 29

Small macules that are red or purple (due to bleeding into skin or mucous membranes)

Question 30

What are petechiae caused by?

Answer 30

Bleeding into skin or mucous membranes

Question 31

Do petechiae blanch?

Answer 31

No

Question 32

What is a larger areas of bleeding under the skin called?

Answer 32

Purpura

Question 33

What is ecchymosis?

Answer 33

Larger extravasations of blood – bruise-like patch

Question 34

Ecchymosis vs bruise?

Answer 34

Bruises are typically caused by an injury, such as a fall or a knock, while ecchymosis is not always a result of trauma. Diseases and other conditions can also cause ecchymosis.

Question 35

What causes ecchymosis?

Answer 35

Ecchymosis is the discoloration of the skin caused by the movement of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the top layer of the skin.

Question 36

What is separation of the nail plate from the nail bed called?

Answer 36

Onycholysis

Question 37

What are punctate depressions of nail plate called?

Answer 37

Pitting