Dermatology terms

Question 1

Scaly spots caused by chronic solar exposure. Actinic keratoses uncommonly progress to squamous cell carcinoma.

Answer 1

Actinic keratosis

Question 2

In dermatology, an ###### refers to an epidermal structure, the hair follicle and its parts, or the sweat gland and duct.

Answer 2

Adnexa

Question 3

is the growth phase of the hair cycle. ###### hair has a pointed tip and grows over several years.

Answer 3

Anagen

Answer 4

Atrophie blanche

Question 5

A ##### is a large blister. A circumscribed lesion more than 1 cm in diameter that contains liquid (clear, serous or haemorrhagic).

Answer 5

Bulla

Question 6

A ###### is a sign of scabies, most often found on wrists and between fingers. It is a skin coloured, snake-like, scaly line about 1 mm in width and 3 to 10 mm in length.

Answer 6

Burrow

Question 7

A ###### is a dilated or widened hair follicle (pore) in the skin. Keratin (skin debris) combines with oil and bacteria to clog the follicle. A comedo can be open (a blackhead) or closed by skin (a whitehead), and can occur with acne or without acne.

Answer 7

Comedo

Question 8

is a molecule on the surface of desmosomes, the intercellular junctions that adhere skin cells together.

Answer 8

Desmoglein

Question 9

is the term given to skin coming off in scales or peeling.

Answer 9

Desquamation

Question 10

shape is round, like a disk.

Answer 10

Discoid

Question 11

body fold e.g. groin, popliteal, antecubital fossa (eczema)

Answer 11

Flexural

Question 12

knees, elbows, shins (psoriasis)

Answer 12

Extensor

Question 13

sacrum, buttocks, ankles, heels (pressure sores)

Answer 13

Pressure areas

Question 14

linear eruption at site of trauma (psoriasis)

Answer 14

Koebner

Question 15

lesions merged

Answer 15

Confluent

Question 16

red/purple non-blanching lesion due to bleeding into skin/mucous membrane – (can be Petechiae – small pinpoint macules / Ecchymoses – larger bruise like patch) – HSP, meningococcal septicaemia

Answer 16

Purpura

Question 17

small flat area < 5 mm (freckle)

Answer 17

Macule

Question 18

large flat area (macule) > 5 mm (port-­‐wine stain)

Answer 18

Patch

Question 19

small raised lesion < 5mm (xanthomata)

Answer 19

Papule

Question 20

large raised round lesion > 5 mm (pyogenic granuloma)

Answer 20

Nodule

Question 21

large raised area with flat top > 5 mm (psoriasis

Answer 21

Plaque

Question 22

small clear fluid filled lesion < 5 mm (chickenpox, pompholyx)

Answer 22

Vesicle

Question 23

small pus-filled bubble < 5 mm (acne)

Answer 23

Pustule

Question 24

localized area of pus (paronychia)

Answer 24

Abscess

Question 25

staph infection within a hair follicle

Answer 25

Boil/furuncle

Question 26

multiple boils/furuncles

Answer 26

Carbuncle

Question 27

well-defined skin thickening with exaggerated skin markings as a result of repeated trauma (scratching)

Answer 27

Lichenification

Question 28

thick flakes of dried skin (psoriasis)

Answer 28

Scales

Question 29

rough area of dried brownish exudate, blood, bacteria + cellular debris (impetigo)

Answer 29

Crust

Question 30

superficial break in the epidermis, heals without scarring

Answer 30

Erosion

Question 31

loss of epidermis and dermis, heals with scar

Answer 31

Ulcer

Question 32

epidermal crack (eczema)

Answer 32

Fissure

Question 33

– long irregular projections, seen in warts

Answer 33

Filiform

Question 34

linear areas which change from purple-­‐ pink-­‐ white (pregnancy, growth spurts, steroid side effects)

Answer 34

Striae

Question 35

spoon-­‐shaped nail (iron def, congenital, idiopathic)

Answer 35

koilonychia

Question 36

nail separating from nail bed (trauma, psoriasis, fungal nail infection, hyperthyroidism)

Answer 36

Onycholysis

Question 37

depressions in nail plate (psoriasis, eczema, alopecia areata)

Answer 37

Pitting