Terminology

Question 1

What is hyperkeratosis

Answer 1

Increased thickness of keratin layer

Question 2

What’s a discrete lesion?

Answer 2

Lesions well demarcated, individual lesions can clearly be seen

Question 3

What’s pitting in the nails

Answer 3

small depressions of nail plate

Question 4

Onycholysis

Answer 4

separation of nail plate from bed

Question 5

Hypertrichosis

Answer 5

General excess hair growth

Question 6

Hirsutes

Answer 6

Excess hair growth male pattern

Question 7

Alopecia

Answer 7

Loss of hair

Question 8

What’s a coalesing lesion?

Answer 8

Individual lesions present but starting to merge together to form larger abnormal areas

Question 9

What are confluent lesions?

Answer 9

No normal skin visible

Question 10

Purpura

Answer 10

Extravasculation of blood - will not blanche

Question 11

Petechia

Answer 11

Small purpura 1-2mm

Question 12

Erythema

Answer 12

Vascular dilation, blanches

Question 13

Macule

Answer 13

flat lesion <1cm

Question 14

Patch

Answer 14

flat lesion >1cm

Question 15

Papule

Answer 15

Localised elevated area <0.5cm

Question 16

Nodule

Answer 16

localised elevated area >0.5cm

Question 17

Plaque

Answer 17

A plaque is a raised lesion with a flat surface.

Question 18

Wheal

Answer 18

Compressible dermal swelling (such as a nettle sting)

Question 19

Cyst

Answer 19

Nodule containing semi-solid material

Question 20

Scale

Answer 20

Accumlated fragments of keratin layer

Question 21

Crust

Answer 21

dried exudate e.g. serum

Question 22

Lichenified

Answer 22

thickening with increased skin markings

Question 23

Scar

Answer 23

normal tissue replaced by fibrous tissue

Question 24

Fissures

Answer 24

linear split in epidermis

Question 25

Erosion

Answer 25

superficial break in epidermis

Question 26

Ulcer

Answer 26

deeper break into dermis

Question 27

Atrophy

Answer 27

loss of epidermis +/- dermis

Question 28

Parakeratosis

Answer 28

Persistence of nuclei in the keratin layer

Question 29

Acanthosis

Answer 29

Increased thickness of epidermis

Question 30

Spongiosis

Answer 30

Oedema between keratinocytes

Question 31

What are mediators of itch?

Answer 31

Chemical mediators - histamine, Ach, Serotonin, IL2, tryptase, substance P etc Nerve transmission - unmyelinated fibres (these transmit temp and itch, different to pain ones) CNS mediators - opiates

Question 32

What are pruitoceptive causes of itch?

Answer 32

Something (usually associated with inflammation or dryness) in skin that triggers itch

Question 33

What are neuropathic causes of itch?

Answer 33

damage to central or peripheral nerves causing itch

Question 34

What are neurogenic causes of itch?

Answer 34

No damage in CNS but itch caused by eg opiate effects on CNS receptors

Question 35

What are psychogenic causes of itch?

Answer 35

psychological causes with no CNS damage - itch in delusions of infestation