healthassessment skin inspection Flashcards
Lesion Type
Description
Macule (Primary lesion)
Solely a color change, flat and circumscribed, of less than 1 cm.
Patch (Primary Lesion)
Macule’s that are larger than 1 cm.
Papule (Primary Lesion)
Something you can feel (solid, elevated, circumscribed, less than 1 cm in diameter) caused by superficial thickening in the epidermis.
Plaque (Primary lesion)
Papules coalesce to form surface elevation wider than 1 cm. A plateau-like, disk-shaped lesion.
Nodule (Primary lesion)
Solid, elevated, hard or soft, larger than 1 cm. May extend deeper into dermis than papule.
Tumor (Primary lesion)
Larger than a few cm in diameter, firm or soft, deeper into dermis; may be benign or malignant.
Wheal (Primary lesion)
Superficial, raised, transient, and erythematous; slightly irregular shape due to edema.
Urticaria (hives) (Primary lesion)
Wheals coalesce to form extensive reaction, intensely pruritic.
Vesicle (Primary lesion)
Elevated cavity containing free fluid, up to 1 cm; a ‘blister’. Clear serum flows if wall is ruptured.
Bulla (Primary lesion)
Larger than 1 cm diameter. Usually single chambered (unilocular).
Cyst (Primary lesion)
Encapsulated fluid-filled cavity in dermis or subcutaneous layer, tensely elevating skin.
Pustule (Primary lesion)
Turbid fluid (pus) in the cavity. Circumscribed and elevated.
Crust (Secondary Lesion)
Thickened, dried-out exudate left when vesicles/pustules burst or dry up.
Scale (Secondary Lesion)
Compact, desiccated flakes of skin, dry or greasy, silvery or white, from shedding of dead excess keratin cells.
Fissure (Secondary lesion)
Linear crack with abrupt edges, extends into dermis, dry or moist.
Ulcer (Secondary lesion)
Deeper depression extending into dermis, irregular shape; may bleed; leaves scar when heals.
Scar (Secondary lesion)
After a skin lesion is repaired, normal tissue is lost and replaced with connective tissue.
Keloid (Secondary lesion)
A hypertrophic scar with excess scar tissue, which extends beyond the original injury.
Contusion (bruise)
A mechanical injury (blow) results in hemorrhage into tissues. Skin is intact.
Hematoma
Bruise that you can feel. It elevates the skin and is seen as swelling.
Edema
Fluid accumulating in interstitial space, most evident in dependent parts of the body.
Cyanosis
Bluish mottled color due to decreased perfusion.
Mole (nevus)
Proliferation of melanocytes, tan to brown in color, flat or raised.
Jaundice
Yellowish skin color indicating rise in bilirubin in blood.
Pruritus
Skin itching, common with dry skin, aging, drug reactions, allergies.
Hirsutism
Excess body hair, in females may indicate endocrine abnormalities.
