Dermatology terminology

Question 1

Define Macule

Answer 1

An area where a change in color has occurred. A macule also if less than 1 cm in diameter. Areas with color changes larger than this would be called a patch

Question 2

Define Papule

Answer 2

A solid raised lesion with less than 1cm distinct borders. Papules can be domed, flat topped, umbilicated etc. They are often associated with crusts, scales etc

Question 3

Define Nodule

Answer 3

A raised solid lesion larger than 1 cm in diameter, can be in the dermis epidermis or subcutaneous tissue

Question 4

Define Tumor in dermatology

Answer 4

A solid mass of skin or subsutanous tissue, larger than a nodule (tumor does not mean a neoplasm is present)

Question 5

Define Plaque

Answer 5

A solid, raised flat topped lesion greater than 1 cm

Question 6

Define Vessicle

Answer 6

Raised fluid filled lesions less than 1cm in diameter

Question 7

Define Bullae

Answer 7

Circumscribed fluid filled lesions larger than 1 cm in diameter.

Question 8

Define Pustule

Answer 8

Circumscribed elevated lesions that contain pus, they are most often infected but not always (e.g. pustular psoriasis.)

Question 9

Define Wheal

Answer 9

An area of oedema restricted to the upper epidermis

Question 10

Define Burrow

Answer 10

Linear lesions produced by an infestation of the skin and formation of tunnels (caused by things such as scabitic mite or cutaneous larva infestation)

Question 11

Define Telangiectasia

Answer 11

Permanent dilation of superficial blood vessels in the skin

Question 12

Define Scale

Answer 12

flakes or plates of compacted desquaminated layers of stratum corneum.

Question 13

Define Crust

Answer 13

The result of drying plasma on the surface of the skin, distinct from scale (do not use the two interchangeably)

Question 14

Define Atrophy

Answer 14

The thinning or absence of epidermal or subcutaneous fat

Question 15

Define Lichenification

Answer 15

The thickening of the epidermis seen with exaggeration of normal skin lines. It is usually to chronic rubbing or scratching of an area

Question 16

Define Erosion

Answer 16

depressed patches of skin where all or part of the epidermis has been lost

Question 17

Define Excoriation

Answer 17

Traumatised or abraised skin caused by scratching or rubbing

Question 18

Define Fissure

Answer 18

A linear cleavage of skin which extends to the dermis

Question 19

Define Ulceration

Answer 19

Patches of necrosis of the epidermis and sometimes of the underlying subcutaneous tissue

Question 20

Define Eschar

Answer 20

A hard darkened plaque of skin covering an ulcer implying extensive necrosis underneath

Question 21

Define Keloids

Answer 21

Large exaggerated connective tissue response to injured skin that extend beyond the edges of the original wound

Question 22

Define Petechiae

Answer 22

Small purple spots on the skin caused by minor bleeds in blood vessels

Question 23

Define Purpura

Answer 23

red or purple spots on the skin that do not blanch on pressure

Question 24

Define Eccymoses

Answer 24

Larger purple patches of skin caused by the rupture of blood vessels underneath

Question 25

Define Annular

Answer 25

Ring shaped

Question 26

Define discrete

Answer 26

lesions that tend to remain separate/not flow into one another

Question 27

Described clustered

Answer 27

Clustered lesions are those that are grouped together, often seem in herpes simplex or insect bites

Question 28

Define confluent

Answer 28

confluent lesions are those that run into one another

Question 29

Define dermatomal/zosteriform

Answer 29

Lesions that follow a dermatome such as varicella zoster/shingles

Question 30

Define Eczematoid

Answer 30

Lesions that are inflamed with a tendency towards clustering, oozing or crusting

Question 31

Define Follicular

Answer 31

involving the hair follicle e.g.

Question 32

Define Guttate

Answer 32

A guttate lesion is one with a distribution that looks like rain drops or as if someone dropped this lesion on the skin. E.g. Guttate psoriasis

Question 33

Define Iris/target lesions

Answer 33

lesions made up of a series of concentric rings. They have a dark or blistered center e.g. erythema multiforme

Question 34

Define Koebner phenomenon

Answer 34

Also called the isomorphic response, appearance of lesions along the site of an injury

Question 35

define linear lesions

Answer 35

Lesions that follow a band/line distribution. Should be distinguished from a dermatomal lesion

Question 36

Define Multiform

Answer 36

Lesions which have a variety of shapes

Question 37

Define reticular

Answer 37

net like

Question 38

Define Serpiginous

Answer 38

serpertine shaped lesions

Question 39

Define Universalis

Answer 39

A universalis lesion is one that covers the whole body

Question 40

Define Scarlatidiform

Answer 40

A scarlatidiform rash is one that resembles scarlet fever but this may or may not be the case. It has innumerable red papules that are widely and diffusely distributed

Question 41

Define morbilliform

Answer 41

A rash that appears like measles. Composed of red macular lesions 2-10mm in diameter that may be confluent in place

Question 42

Define satellite lesions

Answer 42

A portion of a rash that is separated from a core lesion i.e a satellite to it