Skin: Primary and Secondary Gross Lesions

This topic provides the essential vocabulary for describing skin diseases in clinical and pathological terms. Zambian tertiary students in medicine and dermatology will master the classification of primary lesions (the initial, unmodified appearance of a disease process) such as macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, wheals, and nodules. You will also learn secondary lesions (changes that occur as a result of evolution, trauma, or treatment of primary lesions) including erosions, ulcers, scales, crusts, fissures, and scars. The ability to accurately describe a skin finding using this standardized terminology is a fundamental clinical skill. This knowledge is crucial for effective communication in medical records, for formulating differential diagnoses, and for success in clinical and pathology examinations at Zambian universities and colleges.