Terminology Flashcards
Hypotrichosis
Less than normal amount of hair - rarely used in vetmed
Defluxion/effluvium
Sudden widespread loss of hair
Easy epilation
Hairs in resting phase easily removed - If it leads to alopecia then it is likely to be pathological rather than part of normal shedding
Erythema
Redder than normal skin - may indicate inflammation
Macules
Cicular, flat areas of abnormally coloured skin
Erythematous, haemorrhagic, hyper/hypopigmented
Papule
Small red circular pimples <1cm diameter
Pastule
Similar to papule but with a central area of pus
Staphylococcal ring
Central circular area of alopecia surrounded by rim of erythema + ring of scaling (epidermal collarette)
Scale
Grossly visible accumulation of corneocytes (dandruff)
Seborrhoea (seborrhoea oleosa)
Excessive scaling or greasiness
Exfoliations
Shedding of large sheets of scale
Hyperkeratosis
Thickening of SC - only seen histologically. Used clinically to describe accumulations on nasal planum or footpads
Comedone
Accumulation of keratin within hair follicle
Follicular cast
Sheet of scale surrounding hair shaft above skin surface
Lichenification
Thickening of skin due to thickened epidermis. This is an attempt to increase defence - often a response to chronic pruritis.
Plaque
Localised patch of thickened skin with flat surface
Myxoedema
Puffy thickening of skin caused by excessive quantities of mucin in the dermis
Cutaneous atropy
Thinning of the skin
Furunculosis
rupture of hair follicles beneath skin surface
Erosions, ulcers, vesicles and bulla
Erosion - removal of epidermis with BM still intact
Ulcer - exposure of the dermis
Vesicle - blister less than 1cm
Bulla - large blister >1cm
Excoriation vs. fissures
Excoriations are scratches ovccuring from insult to the skin
Fissures are spontaneously occuring seperations of epidermis (often affects nasal planum and footpads)
Crust
Adherant mixture of SC, serum, blood, pus. e.g. blood drying on skin surface
Hyperhidrosis
Excessive sweat
Calcinosis cutis
Deposition of calcium on skin surface
