Pertinent Physical Exam Dermatology

Question 1

What is the Fitzpatrick scale?

Answer 1

• Measured from I to VI
• I = light skin color
• VI = Dark skin color

Question 2

What is annular (ring) shape?

Answer 2

Ring shape with central clearing

Question 3

What is round (nummular) shape?

Answer 3

• Solid circle or oval

- Uniform appearance from edges to center

Question 4

What is arcuate shape?

Answer 4

• Arc-shaped

- Results from incomplete formation of an annular leasion

Question 5

What is multiform shape?

Answer 5

Multiple different shapes located closely together (grab-bag)

Question 6

What is polycyclic shape?

Answer 6

Formed from coalescing circles, rings, or incomplete rings

Question 7

What is targetoid shape?

Answer 7

Target-like, center darker than periphery

Question 8

What is punctate shape?

Answer 8

Dot-like; typically around 1mm

Question 9

What is umbilicated shape?

Answer 9

• Central depression of the surface

- Also known as “delled”

Question 10

What is linear shape?

Answer 10

Resembling a straight line

Question 11

What is serpiginous shape?

Answer 11

Serpentine or snake like

Question 12

What is exudate fluid?

Answer 12

Protein rich fluid containing cellular elements extruded from blood vessels secondary to inflammation or injury

Question 13

What is serosanguinous fluid?

Answer 13

Thin, pink colored discharge associated with normal wound healing

Question 14

What is seropurulent fluid?

Answer 14

Mild, yellow and cloudy discharge associated with mild infections

Question 15

What is purulent fluid?

Answer 15

Thick yellow to green discharge typically associated with infection

Question 16

What is serous fluid?

Answer 16

Thin, clear discharge associated with and expected in inflammatory stage of wound healing

Question 17

What is sanguineous fluid?

Answer 17

Thin, darker red drainage associated with capillary permeability and/or capillary injuries

Question 18

What is serum?

Answer 18

Dried crust

Question 19

What is a macule?

Answer 19

Flat, circumscribed area of color change <1 cm diameter

Question 20

What is a patch?

Answer 20

A flat, non-palpable, irregularly shaped macule >1cm in diameter

Question 21

What is a papule?

Answer 21

Elevated, firm, circumscribed area <1cm in diameter

Question 22

What is a plaque?

Answer 22

Elevated, firm, rough lesion with a flat top >1cm in diameter

Question 23

What is a vesicle?

Answer 23

Elevated, circumscribed, superficial fluid-filled (clear/serous) <1cm

Question 24

What is a pustule?

Answer 24

Elevated, superficial lesion.

- Similar to vesicle but filled with purulent fluid

Question 25

What is a bulla?

Answer 25

Vesicle > 1cm

Question 26

What is a wheal (hive)?

Answer 26

Elevated, irregularly-shaped area of cutaneous edema

- Solid, variable, and transient diameter

Question 27

What is a nodule?

Answer 27

Elevated, firm, circumscribed lesion

• deeper in the dermis than a papule
• 1-2 cm in diameter

Question 28

What is a tumor/mass?

Answer 28

Elevated and solid lesion

• May or may not be clearly demarcated
• Deep in dermis
• > 2 cm

Question 29

What is a cyst?

Answer 29

Encapsulated lesion in dermis or hypodermis

- filled with liquid or semi-solid material

Question 30

What is telangiectasia?

Answer 30

Fine, irregular, red line produced by capillary dilation