Morphology of

SKIN lesions
Morphology of SKIN lesions
PRIMARY SKIN LESIONS
 Macule
 A circumcribed area of
change in skin color
without elevation or
depression less than 1 cm
in diameter.
 It is thus not palpable.
 It may be of any color;
white, brown, blue or red
 Patch
 A circumcribed area of
change in skin color
without elevation or
depression more than 1
cm in diameter.
 It is thus not palpable.
 It may be of any color;
white, brown, blue or red
 Papule
 A circumscribed
solid elevation of
the skin less than
0.5 cm in
diameter.
 Plaque
 A Palpable
elevation of the
skin more than 2
cm in diameter.
 Nodule
 A Palpable solid round

elevation of the skin larger

than 0.5cm in diameter.
 It involves the epidermis ,
dermis , or subcutaneous
tissue.
 The depth of involvement
and the size differentiate a
nodule from a papule.
 Pustule
Elevated lesion
containing purulent
fluid (Pus).
 Vesicle
 Elevated lesion
containing fluid up
to 0.5 cm in
diameter.
 Bullae
 A large
collection of fluid
more than 0.5 cm
in diameter.
Secondary skin lesions
 Scale
 Fragments or flakes of
stratum coreum.
 Dry or greasy, large or
tiny.
Crust

Dried serum and

other exudate.
 Erosion
 It results from
loss of the
epidermis which
heal without
scarring.
 Ulcer
 A complete
loss of
epidermis and
dermis which
heal with
scarring.
 Fissure:
 A linear crack or
gap in skin
surface.
 Atrophy
 Loss of thickness or
substance of
epidermis or dermis.
 Thin and wrinked
skin.