Symptomatic Terms Flashcards
lesion
an area of pathologically altered tissue
primary lesion
lesions arising from previously normal skin
macule (macula)
flat, discolored spot on the skin up to 1 cm across (a freckle)
patch
a flat, discolored area on the skin larger than 1 cm (vitiligo)
papule
a solid mass on the skin up to 0.5 cm in diameter (mole)
plaque
a solid mass on the skin greater than 1 cm in diameter, only on the surface of the skin
nodule
a solid mass greater than 1 cm that extends deeper into the epidermis
tumor
a solid mass larger than 1-2 cm
wheal
an area of localized sin edema (swelling, hive)
vesicle
little bladder, an elevated fluid-filled sac (blister) within or under the epidermis up to 0.5 cm in diameter
bulla
a blister larger than 0.5 cm (bulla= bubble) (a second degree burn)
pustule
a pus filled sac (pimple)
secondary lesion
lesions that result in changes in primary lesions
erosion
to gnaw away, loss of superficial epidermis leaving an area of moisture but no bleeding (area of moisture after rupture of a vesicle)
ulcer
an open sore on the skin or mucous membrane that can bleed and scar and is sometimes accompanied by infection
excoriation
a scratch mark
fissure
a linear crack in the skin
scale
a thin flake of exfoliated epidermis (dandruff)
crust
dried residue of serum, pus, or blood on skin
cicatrix of the skin
mark left by the healing of a sore or wound showing the replacement of destroyed tissue by fibrous tissue (cicatrix= scar)
keloid
an abnormal overgrowth of scar tissue that is thick and irregular (kele= tumor)
vascular lesions
lesions of a blood vessel
cherry angioma
small, round, bright red blood vessel tumor on the skin, often on the trunk of elderly
telangiectasia, spider angioma
tiny, red blood vessel lesion formed by the dilation of a group of blood vessels radiating from a central arteriole, most commonly seen on the face, neck, or chest
purpuric lesions
purpura; lesions as a result of hemorrhages into the skin
petechia
spot; a reddish-brown, minute hemorrhagic spot on the skin that indicates a bleeding tendency– small purpura
ecchymosis
bruisel a black and blue mark– large purpura
epidermal tumors
skin tumors that arise from the epidermis
nevus
a congenital malformation on the skin that can be epidermal or vascular (a mole)
dysplastic nevus
a mole with precancerous changes
verruca
an epidermal tumor caused by a papilloma virus (a wart)
alopecia
baldness; natural or unnatural deficiency of hair
comedo
a plug of sebum within the opening of a hair follicle
closed comedo (whitehead)
plug of sebum below the skin surface with a white center
open comedo (blackhead)
open to the skin surface with a black center caused by the presence of melanin exposed to air
eruption
appearance of a skin lesion
erythema
redness of the skin
pruritus
severe itching
rash
a general term for skin eruption, most often associated with communicable disease
skin pigmentation
skin color due to the presence of melanin
depigmentation
loss of melanin pigment in skin
hypopigmentation
areas of skin lacking color due to deficient amounts of melanin
hyperpigmentation
darkened areas of skin caused by excessive amounts of melanin
suppuration
production of purulent matter (pus)
urticaria
hives; an eruption of wheals on the skin accompanied by itch
xeroderma
dry skin
