Skin Pathology Terms

Front 1

Crust

Back 1

An outer layer from the drying of exudate, secretion, or hemorrhage.

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Scales

Back 2

A flat plate or flake of stratum corneum.

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Squames

Back 3

A thin flake or compacted platelike body, as of cornified epithelial cells.

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Excoriation

Back 4

Any loss of substance of skin produced by scratching.

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Fissure

Back 5

Any linear gap or slit in the skin surface.

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Fomites

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any object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms, such as germs or parasites, and hence transferring them from one individual to another.

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Macule

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A circumscribed flat area of skin, different in color or texture from its surrounding tissue.

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Patch

Back 8

A large macule, more than .5 cm in diameter.

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Papule

Back 9

A small solid elevation of the skin, less than 0.5 cm in diameter.

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Nodule

Back 10

A solid mass of the skin which can be observed as an elevation or can be palpated. Usually 0.5 cm or more in diameter.

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Tumor

Back 11

an enlargement of the tissues by normal or pathologic material or cells that form a mass.
It may be an inflammatory or a benign or a malignant new growth OF CELLS or tissue.

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Vessicle

Back 12

A circumscribed elevation of the skin less than 0.5 cm in diameter and containing a liquid.

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Bulla

Back 13

A circumscribed elevation of skin of 0.5 cm or more in diameter containing a liquid.

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Pustule

Back 14

A visible accumulation of pus in the skin.

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Ulcer

Back 15

A skin ulcer is a defect or loss of dermis and epidermis produced by sloughing of necrotic tissue.

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Plaque

Back 16

An elevated area of skin more than .5 cm in diameter with a relatively broad flat surface which appears like a plateau in cross-section. Plaques may have the same subdivisions as mentioned above under papule.

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Wheal

Back 17

An elevated white or pink compressible, evanescent papule or plaque produced by dermal edema. A red, axon-mediated flare often surrounds it.

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Cyst

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A cyst is any closed cavity or sac (normal or abnormal) with an epithelial, endothelial or membranous lining and containing fluid or semisolid material.

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Telangiectasia

Back 19

A visible vascular lesion formed by dilation of small cutaneous blood vessels.

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Lichenification

Back 20

A chronic thickening of the epidermis with exaggeration of its normal markings, often as a result of (chronic) scratching or rubbing.

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Keloid

Back 21

An elevated progressive scar formation without regression.

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Hypertrophic Scar

Back 22

Cutaneous condition characterized by deposits of excessive amounts of collagen which gives rise to a raised scar, but not to the degree observed with keloids.

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Erosion (skin )

Back 23

a loss of the epidermis which heals without scarring.

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Nevus

Back 24

an abnormality of the skin in which the blood vessels, in a well demarcated patch, are persistently vasoconstricted, producing an area of cutaneous blanching.
Disorders of pigmentation must be distinguished.

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Ichthyosis Congenita

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usually restricted to a localized lesion resembling a very hyperkeratotic epidermal nevus, but which on biopsy histologically demonstrates epidermolytic hyperkeratosis.

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Albinism

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the partial or complete failure of melanin production in the skin and eyes.

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Epidermolysis Bullosa

Back 27

a complex group of blistering disorders. Diseases within this group can generally be differentiated clinically, and electron microscopically.

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Burns

Back 28

A type of injury to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation.

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Rule of 9s in reference or burns

Back 29

Can be used to determine the total percentage of area burned for each major section of the body.

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Impetigo

Back 30

Impetigo is an infection of the skin classically caused by staph aureus.
The primary lesion is a thin walled vesicle that breaks easily. There is lateral extension of the superficial lesion with, typically, a honey colored crust at the edge.

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Folliculitis

Back 31

an inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicle.
Pustule formation usually suggests an infective origin, most commonly staphylococci, but chemical causes are common.

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Furuncle

Back 32

an inflammatory nodule evolving into a pustule which then becomes necrotic, healing with a scar. It is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Lesions may be single or multiple.

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Carbuncle

Back 33

A necrotizing infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue composed of a group of furuncles (boils).

Front 34

Tinea Corporis (ring worm)

Back 34

Causes a scaly, crusted rash that may appear as round, red patches on the skin.Other symptoms and signs of ringworm include patches of hair loss or scaling on the scalp, itching, and blister-like lesions.

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Tinea Cruris (jock itch)

Back 35

is due to fungus. The remainder is caused by moisture, irritation, and bacterial overgrowth.

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Tinea pedis

Back 36

common and contagious skin disease that causes itching, scaling, flaking, and sometimes blistering of the affected areas.

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Crust

Back 37

An outer layer from the drying of exudate, secretion, or hemorrhage.

Front 38

Molluscum contagiousum - water warts

Back 38

caused by a member of the pox virus family, is a cutaneous eruption consisting of one or more, 1 to 3 mm. diameter, flesh colored papules with a central umbilication.

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Measles- maculopapular rash

Back 39

caused by a morbillivirus, a member of the paramyxoviridae. The prodromal symptoms of measles such as fever, malaise, and conjunctivitis with photophobia, typically begin after an incubation period of ten days.

Front 40

Chicken Pox- vesicles

Back 40

Varicella is caused by Herpesvirus varicellae, also known as the Varicella zoster virus.

Typical varicella lesions are clear, tense vesicles, surrounded by an erythematous halo, that erupt over the skin surface, after a 9 to 21 day incubation, and a day or two of fever and malaise. They change from clear to turbid pustules in 2 to 3 days. Lesions then break, producing crusts.

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Herpes labialis or genitalis- vesicles

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An outbreak typically causes small blisters or sores on or around the mouth. The sores typically heal within 2–3 weeks

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Herpes zoster- vesicles

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lesions occurring in the dermatome supplied by that particular nerve. Grouped vesicles, each quite typical of a solitary chickenpox vesicle, develop in that dermatome.

Front 43

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Back 43

a DNA virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans. Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs establish productive infections only in keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes.

Front 44

Scabies

Back 44

caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite is passed from person to person. The mite lives on dead keratinized skin.

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Lice

Back 45

an infestation of the scalp with the head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis.
Common in school age children worldwide, scalp pruritus is the characteristic initial manifestation. Empty egg cases or nits are seen glued to hairs.

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Rhus Dermatitis

Back 46

an allergic contact dermatitis caused by the Rhus (Toxicodendron) genus of plants. Members of this genus are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

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Acne Vulgaris

Back 47

a chronic skin condition characterized by areas of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, greasy skin, and possibly scarring.

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Open Comedones

Back 48

a clogged hair follicle (pore) in the skin. Keratin (skin debris) combines with oil to block the follicle.

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Closed Comedones

Back 49

look like bumps on the skin's surface. Sometimes closed comedones have an obvious white head. In other cases, they are skin colored.

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Exogenous Eczema

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Related to clearly defined external triggering factors , although inherited tendencies can also play a part

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Endogenous Eczema

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implies that the condition is not a result of exogenous or external environmental factors , i.e. is mediated by processes originating within the body

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Seborrheic Keratosis

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chronic eruption with erythema and scaling, involving typically the scalp, external ear canals, eyebrows, central face and the central anterior chest.

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Psoriasis

Back 53

A condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches

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Seborrheic Keratosis

Back 54

raised, skin-colored to dark brown/black lesions. They are well demarcated.
Clinically, the surface is rough.

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

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a well demarcated, translucent papular or nodule with evident telangiectasia. There may be central ulceration, the so-called "rodent ulcer".

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Back 56

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ is a usually well demarcated erythematous scaling patch or plaque.
Lesions on mucosal surfaces are generally without scale and can be bright red in color. In other areas, there may be significant scaling present. Color can vary from pink to red.

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Freckle

Back 57

may develop secondary to solar exposure in genetically programmed individuals.
These flat pale to dark brown lesions show an irregular to frankly dendritic edge.

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Lentigo

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flat brown lesion. The term lentigo usually does not refer to large, congenital lesions

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ABCDs of Malignant Melinoma

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Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the appearance of the other half.
Border irregularity. The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.

Color: The color (pigmentation) is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to a mottled appearance.

Diameter: The size of the mole is greater than 1/4 inch (6 mm), about the size of a pencil eraser. Any growth of a mole should be evaluated.

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Kaposi Sarcoma

Back 60

Is a slowly progressive condition, most commonly seen in elderly southern Europeans.
Usually appearing as purple patches and plaques on the lower extremities, the condition is only very slowly progressive. GI involvement, and involvement at other sites, is a relatively late occurrence, and life expectancy is rarely shortened.

Front 61

Onychogryphosis

Back 61

May be caused by trauma or peripheral vascular disease, but most often secondary to self-neglect and failure to cut the nails for extended periods of time. This condition is most commonly seen in the elderly.

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Koilonychia

Back 62

Spoon nails is a nail disease that can be a sign of hypochromic anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia.

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Onychomycosis

Back 63

a fungal infection of the nail. It is the most common disease of the nails and constitutes about half of all nail abnormalities.

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Paronychia

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a nail disease that is an often-tender bacterial or fungal infection of the hand or foot where the nail and skin meet at the side or the base of a finger or toenail.

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Hirsutism

Back 65

an increase of terminal (adult) hairs in androgen dependent areas such as the groin, axilla, nipple, and face. There is wide variation in normal hair growth.

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Alopecia

Back 66

most commonly seen as well defined round patches of hair loss on the scalp. It may very occasionally become generalised.

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Tinea Capitis

Back 67

a fungal infection of the scalp with invasion of the hair shafts by a dermatophyte. Dermatophytes causing tinea capitis include Microsporum canis, M. audouinii, Trichophyton tonsurans and, less commonly, other organisms.

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Trichotillomania

Back 68

an impulse disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair, leading to noticeable hair loss and balding, distress, and social or functional impairment.