NR 511 DERMATOLOGY- SKIN SYSTEM REVISION
LATEST STUDY GUIDE 2026 TERMS AND
DEFINITIONS
Types of Examination
Inspection:
Observe color, pigmentation, rashes, lesions, and overall skin appearance
under good lighting.
Palpation:
Assess moisture, temperature, texture, turgor, and tenderness of skin; evaluate
lesion consistency and mobility.
Additional Techniques:
• Diascopy: Press glass slide to blanch lesion (distinguishes
erythema from hemorrhage).
• Wood’s Lamp: Uses UV light to identify fungal infections (e.g., tinea),
pigmentation changes (e.g., vitiligo).
• Dermoscopy: Magnified exam of pigmented lesions to
assess malignancy risk.
• Skin scraping / KOH prep: Detects fungal elements or mites.
• Biopsy: Confirms diagnosis of uncertain or suspicious lesions.
Normal Findings
• Even pigmentation appropriate for ethnicity.
• Skin warm, dry, elastic with normal turgor.
• Hair distributed evenly without patches of loss.
• Nails smooth, firm, without clubbing or discoloration.
Descriptive Terms for Lesions
Term Definition
Macule Flat, circumscribed, <1 cm (e.g., freckle, lentigo).
Patch Flat, >1 cm (e.g., vitiligo, café-au-lait spot).
Papule Elevated, solid, <1 cm (e.g., wart, mole).
, Term Definition
Elevated, >1 cm, often coalesced papules (e.g.,
Plaque
psoriasis).
Firm, elevated, >1 cm, extends deeper (e.g.,
Nodule
lipoma).
Small, fluid-filled, <1 cm (e.g., herpes simplex,
Vesicle
varicella).
Large blister >1 cm (e.g., burn, bullous
Bulla
pemphigoid).
Pustule Purulent fluid-filled lesion (e.g., acne, impetigo).
Wheal Transient, raised, erythematous (e.g., urticaria).
Flaky, dry or greasy shedding of keratin (e.g.,
Scale
psoriasis).
Crust Dried serum, blood, or pus (e.g., impetigo).
Linear crack extending into dermis (e.g., athlete’s
Fissure
foot).
Erosion Loss of epidermis, heals without scar.
Ulcer Deeper loss of epidermis and dermis, may scar.
Thickened, rough skin from chronic rubbing (e.g.,
Lichenification
eczema).
Excoriation Linear erosions from scratching.
Petechiae/ Non-blanching red/purple spots due to bleeding
Purpura under skin.
Common Skin Disorders & Differential Diagnoses
1. Bacterial Infections
Impetigo → Honey-colored crusted lesions, common in children; S. aureus
or S. pyogenes.
DDx: Contact dermatitis, herpes simplex, insect bites.
LATEST STUDY GUIDE 2026 TERMS AND
DEFINITIONS
Types of Examination
Inspection:
Observe color, pigmentation, rashes, lesions, and overall skin appearance
under good lighting.
Palpation:
Assess moisture, temperature, texture, turgor, and tenderness of skin; evaluate
lesion consistency and mobility.
Additional Techniques:
• Diascopy: Press glass slide to blanch lesion (distinguishes
erythema from hemorrhage).
• Wood’s Lamp: Uses UV light to identify fungal infections (e.g., tinea),
pigmentation changes (e.g., vitiligo).
• Dermoscopy: Magnified exam of pigmented lesions to
assess malignancy risk.
• Skin scraping / KOH prep: Detects fungal elements or mites.
• Biopsy: Confirms diagnosis of uncertain or suspicious lesions.
Normal Findings
• Even pigmentation appropriate for ethnicity.
• Skin warm, dry, elastic with normal turgor.
• Hair distributed evenly without patches of loss.
• Nails smooth, firm, without clubbing or discoloration.
Descriptive Terms for Lesions
Term Definition
Macule Flat, circumscribed, <1 cm (e.g., freckle, lentigo).
Patch Flat, >1 cm (e.g., vitiligo, café-au-lait spot).
Papule Elevated, solid, <1 cm (e.g., wart, mole).
, Term Definition
Elevated, >1 cm, often coalesced papules (e.g.,
Plaque
psoriasis).
Firm, elevated, >1 cm, extends deeper (e.g.,
Nodule
lipoma).
Small, fluid-filled, <1 cm (e.g., herpes simplex,
Vesicle
varicella).
Large blister >1 cm (e.g., burn, bullous
Bulla
pemphigoid).
Pustule Purulent fluid-filled lesion (e.g., acne, impetigo).
Wheal Transient, raised, erythematous (e.g., urticaria).
Flaky, dry or greasy shedding of keratin (e.g.,
Scale
psoriasis).
Crust Dried serum, blood, or pus (e.g., impetigo).
Linear crack extending into dermis (e.g., athlete’s
Fissure
foot).
Erosion Loss of epidermis, heals without scar.
Ulcer Deeper loss of epidermis and dermis, may scar.
Thickened, rough skin from chronic rubbing (e.g.,
Lichenification
eczema).
Excoriation Linear erosions from scratching.
Petechiae/ Non-blanching red/purple spots due to bleeding
Purpura under skin.
Common Skin Disorders & Differential Diagnoses
1. Bacterial Infections
Impetigo → Honey-colored crusted lesions, common in children; S. aureus
or S. pyogenes.
DDx: Contact dermatitis, herpes simplex, insect bites.
