Terms

Question 1

Parakeratosis is

Answer 1

Nucleated increases thickness of the stratum corneum

Question 2

Hyperkeratosis is

Answer 2

Increased thickness of the stratum corneum which may be absolute (actual increase in thickness) or relative (apparent increase due to thinning of the underlying epidermis, which is rare).

Question 3

Orthokeratosis is

Answer 3

Anuclear increased thickness of the stratum corneum

Question 4

Types (forms) of hyperkeratosis

Answer 4

Basketweave (dermatophytosis, endocrinopathic conditions); laminated (ichthyosis); compact (chronic low-grade trauma, cutaneous horns)

Question 5

Acanthosis is

Answer 5

Increased thickness of the stratum spinosum and may be due to hyperplasia or hypertrophy

Question 6

Spongiosis is

Answer 6

Intercellular edema of the epidermis characterized by widening of the intercellular spaces with accentuation of the intercellular bridges.

Question 7

Intracellular edema: other names and definition

Answer 7

Hydropic degeneration, vacuolar degeneration, ballooning degeneration; characterized by increased cell size, cytoplasmic pallor, displacement of the nucleus to the periphery of affected cells. Severe forms can result in reticular degeneration and intraepidermal vesicles.

Question 8

Ballooning degeneration is

Answer 8

Koilocytosis - specific type seen in epidermal cells characterized by swollen eosinophilic to lightly basophilic cytoplasm without vacuolization, by enlarged or condensed and occasionally multiple nuclei, and by loss of cohesion resulting in acantholysis. Specific feature of viral infections!!

Question 9

Reticular degeneration is?

Answer 9

Severe intracellular edema of epidermal cells in which cells burst, resulting in multilocular intraepidermal vesicles in which septa are formed by resistant cell walls. May be seen with any acute dermatosis but especially dermatophilus and acute contact dermatitis.

Question 10

Hydropic degeneration is

Answer 10

Intracellular edema restricted to cells of the stratum basale. This process may also affect nasal cells of outer root sheath of hair follicles. Uncommon finding, may be associated with lupus erythematosus, idiopathic lichenoid diseases, adverse cutaneous drug reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, dermaromyositis, thymoma associated exfoliative dermatitis of cats, various vasculopathies, lichenoid keratoses