Medical Terminology: Skin Lesions and Disorders

Skin and Mucosal Lesions

• Bulla (bullae): Defined as blisters; these are elevated lesions filled with fluid, found on skin or mucosal surfaces.
• Crusts (crusted): Comprise dried or clotted serum that forms a protective layer on skin or mucosal surfaces.
• Erosion: Refers to shallow, superficial ulcerations that occur on the skin or mucosal surfaces, indicating tissue loss.
• Ulcer: Characterized by crater-like lesions formed due to the necrosis of epithelial tissue, deeper than erosions.
• Vesicle: Describes small blisters that arise as circumscribed elevations on skin or mucosa, containing serous fluid.

Cellular Abnormalities

• Dysplasia (dysplastic): Involves abnormal development in cellular size, shape, or organization, signaling potential precursors to malignancy.
• Hyperplasia (hyperplastic): Describes an increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue, usually a response to a stimulus.
• Hypertrophy (hypertrophic): Refers to an increase in the size of cells themselves, resulting in the enlargement of a tissue or organ.
• Hyperkeratosis: An overgrowth of the outer layer of skin (cornified epithelium), resulting in thickened skin areas.
• Keratosis (keratotic): Similar to hyperkeratosis but emphasizes the thickening and overgrowth of cornified tissue.

Skin Conditions

• Leukoplakia: This condition manifests as thickened, white patches on mucosal surfaces, typically firm and slowly developing.
• Macule: A non-elevated area distinctly different in color from surrounding tissue, often flat and well-defined.
• Nodule: Larger, elevated, solid masses palpable on skin or mucosa, encapsulated and circumscribed in shape.
• Papule: Smaller than nodules, these are elevated and solid lesions, also palpable and circumscribed.
• Plaque: Refers to flat, slightly elevated superficial lesions that may cover larger areas.
• Pustule: Small, elevated lesions containing pus; they appear cloudy and can arise on skin or mucosa.
• Scale: Thin, flaky layers of keratinized epithelium, often resulting from desquamation in various skin conditions.

Inflammatory Conditions

• Stomatitis: Generalized inflammatory condition affecting the oral mucosa, can be indicative of various systemic issues.

Test your knowledge on important medical terms related to skin lesions and disorders. This quiz covers definitions such as bullae, crusts, dysplasia, erosion, and other critical conditions. Perfect for students or anyone interested in dermatology!