Skin Examination and Lesion Terminology

Question 1

What are you looking at in a skin examination?

Answer 1

Distribution (which areas are affected?)
Configuration (how are the lesions arranged?)
Morphology (what do the lesions look like?)

Question 2

Macule

Answer 2

Flat lesion <1cm

Question 3

Patch

Answer 3

Flat lesion >1cm

Question 4

Papule

Answer 4

Raised lesion <0.5cm

Question 5

Nodule

Answer 5

Raised lesion >0.5cm

Question 6

Plaque

Answer 6

Palpable flat lesion >1cm

Question 7

Wheal

Answer 7

Compressible dermal swelling

Question 8

Vesicle

Answer 8

Fluid filled lesion (in epidermis) <0.5cm

Question 9

Bulla

Answer 9

Fluid filled lesion (in epidermis) >0.5cm

Question 10

Cyst

Answer 10

Nodule containing semi-solid material

Question 11

Pustule

Answer 11

Pus filled lesion

Question 12

Scale

Answer 12

Accumulated fragments of keratin layer

Question 13

Crust

Answer 13

Dried exudate

Question 14

Lichenified

Answer 14

Thickening with increases skin markings

Question 15

Scar

Answer 15

Normal tissue replaced by fibrous tissue, no appendages

Question 16

Fissure

Answer 16

Linear split in epidermis

Question 17

Atrophy

Answer 17

Loss of epidermis +/- dermis

Question 18

Erosion

Answer 18

Superficial break in epidermis

Question 19

Ulcer

Answer 19

Deep break into dermis