Symptomatic Terms

Question 1

lesion

Answer 1

an area of pathologically altered tissue

Question 2

primary lesion

Answer 2

lesions arising from previously normal skin

Question 3

macule (macula)

Answer 3

flat, discolored spot on the skin up to 1 cm across (a freckle)

Question 4

patch

Answer 4

a flat, discolored area on the skin larger than 1 cm (vitiligo)

Question 5

papule

Answer 5

a solid mass on the skin up to 0.5 cm in diameter (mole)

Question 6

plaque

Answer 6

a solid mass on the skin greater than 1 cm in diameter, only on the surface of the skin

Question 7

nodule

Answer 7

a solid mass greater than 1 cm that extends deeper into the epidermis

Question 8

tumor

Answer 8

a solid mass larger than 1-2 cm

Question 9

wheal

Answer 9

an area of localized sin edema (swelling, hive)

Question 10

vesicle

Answer 10

little bladder, an elevated fluid-filled sac (blister) within or under the epidermis up to 0.5 cm in diameter

Question 11

bulla

Answer 11

a blister larger than 0.5 cm (bulla= bubble) (a second degree burn)

Question 12

pustule

Answer 12

a pus filled sac (pimple)

Question 13

secondary lesion

Answer 13

lesions that result in changes in primary lesions

Question 14

erosion

Answer 14

to gnaw away, loss of superficial epidermis leaving an area of moisture but no bleeding (area of moisture after rupture of a vesicle)

Question 15

ulcer

Answer 15

an open sore on the skin or mucous membrane that can bleed and scar and is sometimes accompanied by infection

Question 16

excoriation

Answer 16

a scratch mark

Question 17

fissure

Answer 17

a linear crack in the skin

Question 18

scale

Answer 18

a thin flake of exfoliated epidermis (dandruff)

Question 19

crust

Answer 19

dried residue of serum, pus, or blood on skin

Question 20

cicatrix of the skin

Answer 20

mark left by the healing of a sore or wound showing the replacement of destroyed tissue by fibrous tissue (cicatrix= scar)

Question 21

keloid

Answer 21

an abnormal overgrowth of scar tissue that is thick and irregular (kele= tumor)

Question 22

vascular lesions

Answer 22

lesions of a blood vessel

Question 23

cherry angioma

Answer 23

small, round, bright red blood vessel tumor on the skin, often on the trunk of elderly

Question 24

telangiectasia, spider angioma

Answer 24

tiny, red blood vessel lesion formed by the dilation of a group of blood vessels radiating from a central arteriole, most commonly seen on the face, neck, or chest

Question 25

purpuric lesions

Answer 25

purpura; lesions as a result of hemorrhages into the skin

Question 26

petechia

Answer 26

spot; a reddish-brown, minute hemorrhagic spot on the skin that indicates a bleeding tendency-- small purpura

Question 27

ecchymosis

Answer 27

bruisel a black and blue mark-- large purpura

Question 28

epidermal tumors

Answer 28

skin tumors that arise from the epidermis

Question 29

nevus

Answer 29

a congenital malformation on the skin that can be epidermal or vascular (a mole)

Question 30

dysplastic nevus

Answer 30

a mole with precancerous changes

Question 31

verruca

Answer 31

an epidermal tumor caused by a papilloma virus (a wart)

Question 32

alopecia

Answer 32

baldness; natural or unnatural deficiency of hair

Question 33

comedo

Answer 33

a plug of sebum within the opening of a hair follicle

Question 34

closed comedo (whitehead)

Answer 34

plug of sebum below the skin surface with a white center

Question 35

open comedo (blackhead)

Answer 35

open to the skin surface with a black center caused by the presence of melanin exposed to air

Question 36

eruption

Answer 36

appearance of a skin lesion

Question 37

erythema

Answer 37

redness of the skin

Question 38

pruritus

Answer 38

severe itching

Question 39

rash

Answer 39

a general term for skin eruption, most often associated with communicable disease

Question 40

skin pigmentation

Answer 40

skin color due to the presence of melanin

Question 41

depigmentation

Answer 41

loss of melanin pigment in skin

Question 42

hypopigmentation

Answer 42

areas of skin lacking color due to deficient amounts of melanin

Question 43

hyperpigmentation

Answer 43

darkened areas of skin caused by excessive amounts of melanin

Question 44

suppuration

Answer 44

production of purulent matter (pus)

Question 45

urticaria

Answer 45

hives; an eruption of wheals on the skin accompanied by itch

Question 46

xeroderma

Answer 46

dry skin