S4B3 - Skin Pathology Definitions

Front 1

Excoriation

Back 1

Traumatic lesion breaking the epidermis (i.e., deep scratch)

Front 2

Lichenification

Back 2

Thickened and rough skin characterized by prominent skin markings (as lichen on a tree trunk); usually the result of repeated rubbing

Front 3

Scale

Back 3

Dry, horny, plate-like excrescence; the result of imperfect cornification

Front 4

Macule

Back 4

Circumscribed lesion, 5 mm or smaller in diameter change in skin color, flat and distinguished by coloration (patch is greater than 5 mm)

Front 5

Papule

Back 5

Elevated dome-shaped or flat-topped lesion 5 mm or less across (nodule is greater than 5 mm)

Front 6

Plaque

Back 6

Elevated flat-topped lesion, usually greater than 5 mm across (may be caused by coalescent papules)

Front 7

Pustule

Back 7

Discrete, pus-filled nodular or raised lesion

Front 8

Vesicle

Back 8

Fluid-filled raised lesion 5 mm or less size (Bulla is greater than 5 mm. Blister is the common term for either.)

Front 9

Wheal

Back 9

Itchy, transient, elevated lesion with variable blanching and erythema formed as the result of dermal edema

Front 10

Onycholysis

Back 10

Separation of nail plate from nail bed

Front 11

Hyperkeratosis

Back 11

Thickening of the stratum corneum

Front 12

Parakeratosis

Back 12

Keratinization with retained nuclei in the stratum corneum

Front 13

Dyskeratosis

Back 13

Abnormal, premature keratinization within cells below the stratum granulosum

Front 14

Acanthosis

Back 14

Diffuse epidermal hyperplasia

Front 15

Hypergranulosis

Back 15

Hyperplasia of the stratum granulosum, often due to intense rubbing

Front 16

Hydropic swelling (ballooning)

Back 16

Intracellular edema of keratinocytes, often seen in viral infections

Front 17

Spongiosis

Back 17

Intercellular edema of the epidermis

Front 18

Acantholysis

Back 18

Loss of intercellular cohesion or bridges between keratinocytes

Front 19

Vacuolization

Back 19

Formation of vacuoles within or adjacent to cells-bulla formation

Front 20

Exocytosis

Back 20

Infiltration of the epidermis by inflammatory cells

Front 21

Lentiginous

Back 21

A linear pattern of melanocyte proliferation within the epidermal basal cell layer

Front 22

Papillomatosis

Back 22

Surface elevation caused by hyperplasia and enlargement of dermal papillae

Front 23

Erosion

Back 23

Discontinuity of the skin showing incomplete loss of the epidermis

Front 24

Ulceration

Back 24

Discontinuity of the skin showing complete loss of the epidermis revealing dermis