0 Descriptive Terminology

Question 1

Characteristics to describe a lesion?

Answer 1

Colors
Borders
Size
Character (surface texture/elevation)
Location/Site

Question 2

How to describe color?

Answer 2

homogenous = even throughout
variegated = uneven

Question 3

How to describe borders?

Answer 3

blended, crisp

Question 4

How to describe site/location?

Answer 4

left, right, anterior, posterior
superior, inferior, medial, lateral
facial, lingual

Question 5

How to describe texture?

Answer 5

smooth, rough, shaggy, pebbly, papillary, etc

Question 6

How to describe elevation?

Answer 6

flat, raised, depressed

Question 7

flat lesions

Answer 7

macule, patch

Question 8

raised lesions

Answer 8

papule, nodule, plaque, tumor, vesicle, bulla, pustule, keratosis

Question 9

macule

Answer 9

an area of color change with no elevation or depression of the surface; may be any shape or color

Question 10

an area of color change with no elevation or depression of the surface; may be any shape or color

Answer 10

macule

Question 11

patch

Answer 11

a macule >2cm in diameter

Question 12

a macule >2cm in diameter

Answer 12

patch

Question 13

papule

Answer 13

solid, elevated lesion;

≤0.5cm in diameter

Question 14

solid, elevated lesion;

≤0.5cm in diameter

Answer 14

papule

Question 15

nodule

Answer 15

solid, elevated lesion;
>0.5cm in diameter;
sessile (broad base) or pedunculated (narrow base, stalk-like)

Question 16

solid, elevated lesion;

>0.5cm in diameter

Answer 16

nodule

Question 17

plaque

Answer 17

slightly-elevated; any surface area

Question 18

slightly-elevated; any surface area

Answer 18

plaque

Question 19

tumor

Answer 19

non-specific term to describe any large solid mass;

benign or malignant

Question 20

non-specific term to describe any large solid mass (benign or malignant)

Answer 20

tumor

Question 21

vesicle

Answer 21

fluid-filled lesion;

≤0.5cm in diameter

Question 22

fluid-filled lesion;

≤0.5cm in diameter

Answer 22

vesicle

Question 23

bulla

Answer 23

fluid-filled elevation;

>0.5cm in diameter

Question 24

fluid-filled elevation;

>0.5cm in diameter

Answer 24

bulla

Question 25

pustule

Answer 25

pus-filled elevation; | any size

Question 26

pus-filled elevation; any size

Answer 26

pustule

Question 27

keratosis

Answer 27

slightly-raised lesion; | caused by increased production and retention of keratin

Question 28

slightly-raised lesion; | caused by increased production and retention of keratin

Answer 28

keratosis

Question 29

Terms to describe hemorrhage?

Answer 29

petechia, purpura, ecchymosis

Question 30

petechia

Answer 30

flat, pinpoint areas of hemorrhage

Question 31

flat, pinpoint areas of hemorrhage

Answer 31

petechia

Question 32

purpura

Answer 32

area of hemorrhage >petechial, but ≤1cm in diameter

Question 33

area of hemorrhage >petechial, but ≤1cm in diameter

Answer 33

purpura

Question 34

ecchymosis

Answer 34

area of hemorrhage >1cm in diameter

Question 35

area of hemorrhage >1cm in diameter

Answer 35

ecchymosis

Question 36

Terms to describe depressed lesions?

Answer 36

fissure, erosion, ulcer, atrophy

Question 37

fissure

Answer 37

a linear cleavage or cleft of the mucosa; | may or may not extend through the mucosa

Question 38

a linear cleavage or cleft of the mucosa; may or may not extend through the mucosa

Answer 38

fissure

Question 39

erosion

Answer 39

superficial loss of surface epithelium; usually looks red clinically; heals without scarring

Question 40

superficial loss of surface epithelium; | usually looks red clinically; heals without scarring

Answer 40

erosion

Question 41

ulcer

Answer 41

complete loss of surface epithelium; usually looks white/yellow intraorally due to fibrinous pseudomembrane covering ulcer bed; involves lamina propria and possible deeper submucosa of DT

Question 42

complete loss of surface epithelium; | usually looks white/yellow intraorally due to fibrinous pseudomembrane covering ulcer bed

Answer 42

ulcer

Question 43

involves lamina propria and possible deeper submucosa of DT

Answer 43

ulcer

Question 44

atrophy

Answer 44

decrease in normal thickness of epithelium, “thinning,” mucosa usually appears red; increased translucency of surface

Question 45

decrease in normal thickness of epithelium, “thinning,” mucosa usually appears red; increased translucency of surface

Answer 45

atrophy