the skin

Question 1

function of the skin?

Answer 1

largest organ of the body, protective barrier against environmental stimulus, temperature and water loss regulation, sensations, vitamin D synthesis, appearance

Question 2

describe ‘flat’ marks on the skin?

Answer 2

MACULE - a flat are of altered colour <0.5cm in diameter. PATCH - a flat area of altered colour or texture >0.5cm.

Question 3

describe ‘raised’ marks on the skin?

Answer 3

PAPULE - solid raised lesion <0.5cm. NODULE - solid raised lesion with a deeper component >0.5cm. PLAQUE - palpable scaling raised lesion >0.5cm.

Question 4

two types of blister?

Answer 4

vesicle; clear, raised, fluid filled lesion <0.5cm. bulla; raised, clear fluid filled lesion >0.5cm.

Question 5

benign lesions on the skin?

Answer 5

fibro epithelial polyps, nevi; cysts; seborrheic keratosis, haemangioma

Question 6

what is a fibro-epithelial polyps?

Answer 6

skin tags; fresh coloured bag like lesions. occur in middle aged and older people, usually on the neck, trunk, face, axilla and groin.

Question 7

histology of fibro-epithelial polyps?

Answer 7

fibrous core (fibro-), benign epidermis (-epithelial), on a stalk (polyp)

Question 8

what are nevi (moles)?

Answer 8

proliferation of benign melanocytes (pigment-producing cells)

Question 9

3 types of nevi (moles)?

Answer 9

junctional nevi (dermo-epidermal junction), compound nevi (dermo-epidermal junction and dermis), intradermal nevi (just in dermis)

Question 10

what is meant by ‘sebaceous’ cyst?

Answer 10

a clinical term which encompasses two types of cyst; epidermoid cyst (granular layer) and pillar cyst (no granular layer)

Question 11

describe haemangioma?

Answer 11

benign vascular tumour of the dermis with a bluey-red surface, tends to occur in children.

Question 12

examples of malignant skin lesions?

Answer 12

basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma

Question 13

describe basal cell carcinoma?

Answer 13

most common human cancer, a slow growing tumour. rarely metastasize’s, occurs at sun exposed sites

Question 14

describe squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 14

second most common skin tumour of sun-exposed sites in older people

Question 15

describe melanoma?

Answer 15

skin cancer arises in sun damaged skin, can be aggressive and spread widely

Question 16

what is the ‘ABCDE’ check for skin cancer/melanoma

Answer 16

checking skin lesions; A- asymmetry. B- border (irregular). C- colour (varied skin pignmentation). D- diameter (usually >6mm), E- enlarge

Question 17

describe rashes and examples

Answer 17

rashes are inflammatory skin reactions e.g. eczema; causes itching, burning, rash and blisters

Question 18

describe psoriasis?

Answer 18

demarcated, salmon pink plaques with silver scaling. commonly affects elbows, knees, scalp, lumbosacral area, glens penis

Question 19

what is psoriasis associated with?

Answer 19

nail changes, arthritis, myopathy, enteropathy, spondylar joint disease

Question 20

describe scabies?

Answer 20

common, itchy, caused by human scabies mites. spread by direct skin to skin contact.

Question 21

where are scabies mites usually found?

Answer 21

web spaces of fingers and on palms of hands, wrists, ankles, soles of feet.

Question 22

examples of systemic skin diseases?

Answer 22

meningitis, SLE, internal malignancy

Question 23

signs and symptoms of meningitis?

Answer 23

non-blanching rash, feeling unwell; stiff neck, headache, dislike of bright light, aching limbs, cold hands and feet

Question 24

describe rash in meningococcal septicaemia?

Answer 24

non-blanching rash of tiny ‘pink prick’ spots that can rapidly develop into purple bruising.