glossary

Question 1

Acantholysis

Answer 1

detachment of keratinocytes from each other due to loss of intercellular contacts. This often is associated with the cell assuming a spherical shape, i.e., a round profile in sections. This can occur in both tumors (acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma) or blistering disorders (pemphigus).

Question 2

Acanthosis

Answer 2

increase in keratinocyte population of spinous layer with thickening of the epidermis; may be papillomatous or psoriasiform.

Question 3

Adventitial dermis

Answer 3

the investment of fine collagen fibers and delicate blood and lymphatic vessels which surround the epidermal appendages. The papillary dermis is continuous with the adventitial dermis as the appendages penetrate through the papillary dermis and enter into the reticular dermis.

Question 4

Apoptosis

Answer 4

a general process of cell death as individual cell necrosis; in skin, it often leads to a residual body containing many keratin filaments, which resemble amyloid. The residual bodies are often called “colloid bodies” (ex. lichen planus).

Question 5

Annular

Answer 5

grouped (clustered) as round rings

Question 6

Arciform

Answer 6

grouped (clustered) as incomplete rings, arcs

Question 7

Ballooning Degeneration

Answer 7

intracellular edema with cellular swelling. This is often secondary to viral injury or nutritional deficiency (ex. herpes simplex or zoster).

Question 8

Bulle (pl. bullae)

Answer 8

a circumscribed lesion, greater than 5 mm. in diameter, that is elevated and contains fluid. Also called “blister”.

Question 9

Crust

Answer 9

dried serum, blood, or pus on the surface. Also called a “scab”.

Question 10

Dermis

Answer 10

the collagenous layer between the epidermis and subcutaneous layer. See also papillary, reticular, and adventitial dermis.

Question 11

Dyskeratosis

Answer 11

cell death associated with premature keratinization below the level of the stratum granulosum.

Question 12

Erosion

Answer 12

A moist, circumscribed, usually depressed lesion that results from loss of all or a portion of the viable epidermis; may heal without scarring.

Question 13

Excoriation

Answer 13

a traumatic erosion or ulcer which often is linear, e.g., a deep scratch.

Question 14

Herpetiform

Answer 14

grouped as clusters of vesicles

Question 15

Hypergranulosis

Answer 15

increase in thickness of the granular layer

Question 16

Hyperkeratosis

Answer 16

increased thickness of stratum corneum, whether by normal or abnormal keratinocytes

Question 17

Hypogranulosis

Answer 17

decrease in thickness of the granular layer

Question 18

Lichenification

Answer 18

thickened skin, with accentuated skin markings

Question 19

Linear

Answer 19

in a line, continuous or broken; may be secondary to trauma, or follow vessels or nerves. (F1) shows a poison-ivy-like lesion of contact dermatitis in a linear distribution.

Question 20

Macule

Answer 20

a circumscribed, flat lesion differing in color from the surrounding skin; may be of any size.

Question 21

Melanophage

Answer 21

macrophage which has ingested melanin pigment lost from the melanocytes or keratinocytes.

Question 22

Nodule

Answer 22

a palpable, solid, round or ellipsoidal lesion. Usually more than 1 cm. in diameter, but may be smaller. May be deep in the dermis or subcutis, or be superficial.

Question 23

Orthokeratosis

Answer 23

process of normal keratinization which leads to the production of a stratum corneum composed of anucleate squames

Question 24

Papillary dermis

Answer 24

the portion of the dermis that extends from the basement membrane down to and including the superficial vascular plexus. It contains finer collagen bundles and elastin fibers than the reticular dermis.

Question 25

Papillomatosis

Answer 25

increase in keratinocytes with formation of projections from the surface of the skin, i.e. papillae; typical example is a wart.

Question 26

Papule

Answer 26

a small, solid, elevated lesion, less than 1 cm. in diameter, usually superficial and mostly projecting from the surface.

Question 27

"Patch"

Answer 27

a large macule or large thin plaque

Question 28

Plaque

Answer 28

a mesa-like elevation that occupies a relatively large surface area (more than 1 cm.). These may be formed by the coalescence of papules.

Question 29

Poikiloderma

Answer 29

usually a plaque (less often a macule) that has the combination of atrophy, telangiectasia, and pigmentary alteration (hyperpigmentation and/or Hypopigmentation ).

Question 30

Polycyclic

Answer 30

grouped (clustered) as irregular rings

Question 31

Psoriasiform Epidermal Hyperplasia

Answer 31

increase in keratinocytes with elongation of rete ridges and elongation of dermal papillae; typical example is psoriasis.

Question 32

Pustule

Answer 32

a circumscribed, raised lesion containing pus.

Question 33

Random

Answer 33

random distribution of lesions on the skin

Question 34

Reticular dermis

Answer 34

the portion of the dermis that extends from the superficial vascular plexus down to the subcutis. It contains larger collagen bundles and elastin fibers than the papillary dermis.

Question 35

Scale

Answer 35

dry, horny, platelike excrescence, usually composed of abnormally shed or accumulated stratum corneum.

Question 36

Spongiosis

Answer 36

widening of the interspaces between keratinocytes due to edema fluid without detachment of cells from each other, except when vesicles form, (edema in the epidermis).

Question 37

Ulcer

Answer 37

a lesion in which there has been destruction of the epidermis and which goes into the papillary or reticular dermis or even deeper; usually heals with scarring.

Question 38

Vacuolar Change (vacuolization)

Answer 38

the formation of vacuoles within cells. This term is used often in reference to changes in the basal keratinocytes (ex. Lupus, erythema multiforme).

Question 39

Vesicle

Answer 39

a circumscribed lesion, 5 mm. in diameter or less, that is elevated and contains fluid. Also called "blister".

Question 40

Wheal

Answer 40

a rounded or flat-topped elevated lesion that characteristically is evanescent, disappearing within hours; also called an urticarial lesion or "hive".