Symptomatic Terms

Question 1

lesion

Answer 1

an area of pathologically altered tissue

Question 2

primary lesions

Answer 2

lesions arising from previously normal skin

Question 3

macule or macula

Answer 3

a flat, discolored spot on the skin up to 1cm across

EX: freckles

Question 4

patch

Answer 4

a flat, discovered area on the skin larger than 1cm

EX: Vitiligo

Question 5

papule

Answer 5

a solid mass on the skin up to 0.5cm in diameter

EX: mole

Question 6

plaque

Answer 6

a solid mass greater than 1cm in diameter and limited to the surface of the skin

Question 7

nodule

Answer 7

a solid mass greater than 1cm that extends deeper into the epidermis

Question 8

tumor

Answer 8

a solid mass larger than 1-2cm

Question 9

wheal

Answer 9

an area of localized skin edema

EX: Hive

Question 10

vesicle

Answer 10

an elevated, fluid filled sac within or under the epidermis up to 0.5cm in diameter
EX: a fever blister

Question 11

bulla

Answer 11

a blister larger than 0.5cm
EX: second degree burn
bulla = bubble

Question 12

pustule

Answer 12

a pus filled sac

EX: pimple

Question 13

secondary lesions

Answer 13

lesions that result in changes to primary lesions

Question 14

erosion

Answer 14

loss of superficial epidermis but no bleeding

Question 15

ulcer

Answer 15

an open sore on the kin or mucous membrane that can bleed and scar; sometimes with infection

Question 16

excoriation

Answer 16

scratch mark

Question 17

vascular lesions

Answer 17

lesions of a blood vessel

Question 18

cherry angioma

Answer 18

small, round bright red blood vessel tumor on the skin

Question 19

telangiectasia

Answer 19

a tiny, red blood vessel lesion formed by the dilation of a group of blood vessels radiating from a central arteriole, most commonly on the face, neck or chest

Question 20

purpuric lesions

Answer 20

lesions resulting from hemorrhages into the skin

Question 21

petechia

Answer 21

spot; reddish-brown, minute hemorrhagic spots on the skin that indicate a bleeding tendency

Question 22

ecchymosis

Answer 22

bruise

Question 23

cicatrix of the skin

Answer 23

a mark left by the healing of a sore or wound, showing the replacement of destroyed tissue by fibrous tissue
cicatrix = scar

Question 24

keloid

Answer 24

an abnormal overgrowth of scar tissue that is thick and irregular

Question 25

neoplasm

Answer 25

abnormal tissue that grows by more rapid than normal cellular proliferation

Question 26

nevus

Answer 26

a benign localized overgrowth of melanin forming cells on the skin present at birth or appearing early in life that cna be epidermal or vascular; aka a mole

Question 27

dysplastic nevus

Answer 27

a mole with precancerous changes

Question 28

verruca

Answer 28

an epidermal growth caused by a papilloma virus; wart