Morphology

Question 1

Macule

Answer 1

Flat, nonpalpable, < 10 mm.

Examples: Freckles, flat moles, tattoos, port-wine stain, rickettsial infections, rubella, measles, drug reactions.

Question 2

Patch

Answer 2

Large macule.

Question 3

Papule

Answer 3

Elevated lesion < 10 mm that can be felt or palpated.

Examples: Nevi, warts, lichen, planus, insect bites, seborrheic and actinic keraoses, acne, skin cancer.

Question 4

Plaque

Answer 4

Palpable lesion > 10 mm that is elevated or depressed. May be flat-topped or rounded.
Examples: Psoriasis, granuloma annulare

Question 5

Nodules

Answer 5

Firm papules that extend into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue.
Examples: Cysts, lipomas, fibromas.

Question 6

Vesicles

Answer 6

Small, clear fluid-filled blisters < 10 mm.

Examples: Herpes, acute allergic contact dermatitis

Question 7

Bullae

Answer 7

Clear, fluid-filled blisters > 10 mm caused by burns, bites, irritant, allergic contact dermatitis, drug reactions.
Examples: Pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid.

Question 8

Pustules

Answer 8

Vesicles that contain pus and are common in bacterial infections.
Examples: Folliculitis, pustular psoriasis.

Question 9

Uriticaria

Answer 9

AKA wheals or hives. Elevated lesions caused by localized edema that are pruritic and red. Caused by drug hypersensitivity, stings or bites, or autoimmunity.

Question 10

Scale

Answer 10

Heaped-up accumulations of horny epithelium.

Examples: Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, fungal infections.

Question 11

Crust

Answer 11

AKA scab. Dried serum, blood, or pus. Can be either inflammatory or infectious (Impetigo).

Question 12

Erosions

Answer 12

Open areas of skin that result from loss of part or all of the epidermis. Can be traumatic or can occur with various inflammatory /infections skin diseases.

Question 13

Excoriation

Answer 13

Linear erosion caused by scratching, rubbing, or picking.

Question 14

Ulcer

Answer 14

Loss of the epidermis and at least part of the dermis d/t venous stasis, trauma, decubitus ulcers, PAD, infection, vasculitis.

Question 15

Petechiae

Answer 15

Nonblanchable punctate foci of hemorrhage d/t platelet abnormalities, vasculitis, infections, meningococcemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Question 16

Purpura

Answer 16

Area of hemorrahge that may be palpable. Hallmark sign of leukocystoclastic vasculitis. Indicates coagulopathy.

Question 17

Ecchymosis

Answer 17

Large areas of purpura.

Question 18

Atrophy

Answer 18

Thinning of the skin caused by chronic sun exposure, aging, inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases. May be caused by long-term use of topical steroids.

Question 19

Scar

Answer 19

Area of fibrosis that replaces normal skin after injury.

Question 20

Keloid

Answer 20

Hypertrophic scar that extends beyond the original wound margin.

Question 21

Telangiectases

Answer 21

Foci of small, permanently dilated blood vessels that may occur in sun damage, rosacea, systemic sclerosis, long-term topical corticosteroids.