Integumentary Disorders Terms

Macule

Small, flat, discolored blemishes or change in skin color; flush with the skin surface

Papule

Palpable, circumscribed, red solid elevations in the skin; smaller than 0.5cm.

Patch

Flat, nonpalpable, irregularly shaped macule

Plaque

Elevated, firm, rough lesion with flat-topped surface

Wheal

Irregular shaped, elevated areas, white in the center with pale red periphery, with superficial localized cutaneous edema; vary in size.

Nodule

Elevated, firm, circumscribed lesion; deeper in the dermis than a papule.

Tumor

Elevated and solid lesion; may or may not be clearly demarcated; deeper in the dermis

Vesicles

Circumscribed elevation of skin filled with serous fluid.

Bulla

Vesicle bigger than 1 cm in diameter

Pustule

Elevated, superficial lesion; similar to a vesicle but filled with purulent fluid

Cyst

Elevated, circumscribed, encapsulated lesion; in dermis or subcutaneous layer; filled with liquid or semisolid material.

Telangiectasia

Fine, irregular red lines produced by capillary dilation

Lichenification

Rough, thickened epidermis secondary to persistent rubbing, itching, or skin irritation; often involves flexor surface of extremity.

Scale

Headed-up keratinized cells; flaky skin; irregular; thick or thin; dry or oily; variation in size.

Keloid

Overgrowth of collagenous scar tissue at the site of a skin wound caused by excessive collagen formation during healing.

Scar

Thin to thick fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after injury or laceration to the dermis.

Excoriation

Injury to the surface layer of skin caused by scratching or abrasion.

Fissure

Linear crack or break from the epidermis to the dermis; may be moist or dry.

Erosion

Loss of part of the epidermis; depressed, moist, glistening; follows rupture of a vesicle or bulla.

Ulcer

Loss of epidermis and dermis; concave; varies in size.

Crust

Dried serum, blood, or purulent exudate; slightly elevated; size varies: brown, red, black, or tan

Atrophy

Thinning of skin surface and loss of skin markings; skin translucent and paper-like

Freckles, flat moles (nevi), petechiae, measles, scarlet fever

Macule

Warts (verrucae), elevated moles, lichen planus

Papule

Vitiligo, port-wine stains, Mongolian spots, cafe-au-lait spots

Patch

Psoriasis, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis

Plaque

Insect bites, urticaria, allergic reaction

Wheal

Erythema nodosum, lipomas

Nodule

Neoplasms, benign tumor, lipoma, hemangioma

Tumor

Varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster (shingles)

Vesicle

Blister, pemphigus vulgaris

Bulla

Impetigo, acne

Pustule

Sebaceous cyst, cystic acne

Cyst

Telangiectasia in rosacea

Telangiectasia

Flaking of skin with seborrheic dermatitis after scarlet fever, or flaking of skin following a drug reaction; dry skin

Scale

Chronic dermatitis

Lichenification

Healing wound or surgical incision

Scar

Abrasion or scratch, scabies

Excoriation

Athlete's foot, cracks at the corner of the mouth

Fissure

Varicella, variola after rupture

Erosion

Pressure sores, stasis ulcers

Ulcer

Scab on abrasion, eczema

Crust

Striae, aged skin

Atrophy

Pruritus

Itching

Exudate

Fluid, cells, or other substances slowly exuded or discharged from body cells

Pustulant vesicles

Small, pus-containing elevations of the skin

Suppuration

To produce purulent material

Urticaria

Itching welts, hives

Pediculosis

Lice

Pediculosis capitis

Head lice

Pediculosis corporis

Body lice

Pediculosis pubis

Pubic lice

Verruca

Benign, viral, warty skin (nipple-like) growth.

Nevi

Pigmented, congenital blemishes benign but may become cancerous.

Alopecia

Loss of hair from destruction of the hair follicles.

Rule of nines

Multiples of nine; to determine (TBSA) burned

TBSA

Total body surface area

Contractures

Permanent joint flexion and fixation caused by atrophy shortening of muscle

Curling's ulcer

Duodenal ulcer 8 to 14 days after severe burns; first sign is vomiting bright red blood.

Eschar

Black, leathery crust; forms over burned tissue.

Debridement

Removal of damaged tissue from a wound or burn

Autograft

Transplantation of tissue from the same individual.

Homograft (allograft)

Transfer of tissue between two humans not identical twins

Heterograft (xenograft)

Tissue from another species, such as a pig or a cow.

Synthetic graft substitute

The autograph is permanent whereas other types are temporary