Terminology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What are the principles of examining the skin?

A

Inspect
Describe (SCAM, ABCD)
Palpate (surface, consistency, mobility, tenderness, temperature)
Systematic check (nails, scalp, hair, mucous membranes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is pruritic?

A

Itching

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a lesion?

A

Area of altered skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a rash?

A

An eruption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a naevus?

A

Localised malformation of tissue structures e.g. pigmented melanocytic naevus (mole)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a comedone?

A

Plug in sebaceous follicle containing altered sebum, bacteria and cellular debris
May present as open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Regarding distribution (pattern of spread of lesions), what is meant by

a) generalised?
b) widespread?
c) localised?
d) flexural?
e) extensor?
f) pressure areas?
g) dermatome?
h) photosensitive?

A

a) all over body
b) extensive
c) restricted to one area of skin only
d) body folds (groin, neck, behind ears, popliteal and antecubital fossa)
e) knees, elbows, shins
f) sacrum, buttocks, ankles, heels
g) area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
h) affects sun-exposed areas (face, neck, back of hands)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the Koebner phenomenon?

A

Linear eruption arising at site of trauma e.g. excoriation in psoriasis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Regarding configuration (pattern/shape of grouped lesions), what is meant by

a) discrete?
b) confluent?
c) linear?
d) target?
e) annular?
f) discoid/nummular?

A

a) individual lesions separated from one another
b) lesions merging together
c) in a line
d) concentric rings (like dartboard) e.g. erythema multiforme
e) like a circle/ring e.g. tinea corporis (ringworm)
f) coin-shaped/round lesion e.g. discoid eczema

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is erythema?

A

Redness (due to inflammation and vasodilation) blanching on pressure e.g. palmar erythema

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is purpura?

A

Red/purple colour (bleeding into skin/mucous membrane) that does not blanch on pressure
-Petechiae (small pinpoint macules)
-Ecchymoses (large bruise like patches)
E.g. Henoch-Schonlein pupura (palpable small vessel vasculitis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is hypopigmentation?

A

Area(s) of paler skin e.g. pityriasis versicolour (superficial fungal infection)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is depigmentation?

A

White skin due to absence of melanin
Larger patches vs hypopigmentation
e.g. vitiligo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is hyperpigmentation?

A

Darker skin that may be due to various pathology e.g. post inflammatory
Examples include Melasma (increased melatonin pigmentation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a macule?

A

Flat area of altered colour e.g. freckles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a patch?

A

Larger flat area of altered colour or texture e.g. vascular malformation (naevus flammeus/port wine stain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a papule?

A

Solid raised lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. xanthomata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a nodule?

A

Solid raised lesion >0.5cm diameter with a deeper component e.g. pyogenic granuloma (granuloma telangiectaticum)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a plaque?

A

Palpable scaling raised lesion >0.5cm diameter e.g. psoriasis

20
Q

What is a vesicle?

A

Small blister

Raised, clear, fluid-filled lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. acute hand eczema (pompholyx)

21
Q

What is a bulla?

A

Large blister

Raised clear fluid-filled lesion >0.5cm diameter e.g. reaction to insect bites

22
Q

What is a pustule?

A

Pus-containing lesion <0.5cm diameter e.g. acne

23
Q

What is an abscess?

A

Localised accumulation of pus in dermis or subcutaneous tissues e.g. periungual abscess (acute paronychia)

24
Q

What is a wheale?

A

Transient raised lesion due to dermal oedema e.g. urticaria

25
Q

What is a boil/furuncle?

A

Staph infection around/within hair follicle

26
Q

What is a carbuncle?

A

Staph infection of adjacent hair follicle (multiple boils/furuncle)

27
Q

What is a secondary (S) lesion?

A

Lesion evolving from primary lesion

28
Q

What is excoriation (S)?

A

Loss of epidermis following trauma e.g. excoriation in eczema

29
Q

What is lichenification (S)?

A

Well defined roughening of skin with accentuation of skin markings e.g. lichenification from chronic rubbing in eczema

30
Q

What are scales (S)?

A

Flakes of stratum corneum e.g. silvery scales in psoriasis

31
Q

What is a crust (S)?

A

Rough surface of dried serum, blood, bacteria and cellular debris exuded through eroded epidermis (e.g. impetigo secondary to a burst blister)

32
Q

What is a scar (S)?

A

New fibrous tissue occurring during post-wound healing
May be atrophic (thinning), hypertrophic (hyperproliferation within wound boundary) or keloidal (hyperproliferation beyond wound boundary) e.g. keloid scars

33
Q

What is an ulcer (S)?

A

Loss of epidermis and dermis (heals with scarring)

34
Q

What is a fissure (S)?

A

Epidermal crack often due to excess dryness e.g. eczema

35
Q

What are striae (S)?

A

Linear areas progressing from purple/pink/white, with histopathological appearance of scar (associated with excessive steroid use and glucocorticoid production, growth spurt, pregnancy)

36
Q

What is alopecia?

A

Loss of hair e.g. alopecia areata (well defined patch of complete hair loss)

37
Q

What is hirsutism?

A

Androgen-dependent hair growth in female

38
Q

What is hypertrichosis?

A

Non-androgen dependent pattern of excessive hair growth e.g. in pigmented naevi

39
Q

What is clubbing?

A
Loss of angle between posterior nail fold and nail plate 
Associated with 
-suppurative lung disease
-cyanotic heart disease
-IBD
-idiopathic
40
Q

What is koilonychia?

A
Spoon shaped depression of nail plate
Associated with
-iron deficiency anaemia
-congenital
-idiopathic
41
Q

What is onycholysis?

A
Separation of distal end of nail plate from nail bed
Associations
-trauma
-psoriasis
-fungal nail infection
-hyperthyroidism
42
Q

What is nail pitting?

A
Punctate depressions of nail plate 
Associations
-psoriasis
-eczema
-alopecia areata
43
Q

How should emollients be applied?

A

Liberally and regularly

44
Q

How should topical corticosteroids be applied?

A

Thinly, short term use only (1-2w normally)

Only use 1% hydrocortisone/equivalent strength on face

45
Q

How can pressure sores be prevented?

A

Frequent repositioning
Nutritional support
Use of pressure relieving devices e.g. special beds

46
Q

How can skin cancer be avoided?

A

Avoid exposure to UV rays (think SMART)

  • Spend time in shade between 11-3
  • Make sure you never burn
  • Aim to cover up (t-shirt, wide brim hat, sunglasses)
  • Remember take extra care with children
  • Then use SPF 30+
47
Q

What are the types of skin?

A

I - always burns, never tans
II - always burns, sometimes tans
III - sometimes burns always tans
IV - never burns, always tans

I and II at higher risk of skin cancer