CPCA Dermatology Anatomy and Terminology — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which layer of the skin contains the sweat glands and hair follicle roots?
- Epidermis
- Dermis (Correct answer)
- Hypodermis
- Stratum corneum
Correct answer: Dermis
The dermis contains sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicle roots, blood vessels, and nerve endings.
Question 2: The medical term 'xeroderma' refers to which skin condition?
- Excessive oiliness
- Abnormal dryness (Correct answer)
- Yellowing of the skin
- Excessive sweating
Correct answer: Abnormal dryness
Xeroderma means abnormally dry skin, derived from the Greek 'xero' (dry) and 'derma' (skin).
Question 3: What term describes a group of small vesicles clustered together, as seen in herpes zoster?
- Bulla
- Pustule
- Herpetiform (Correct answer)
- Lichenification
Correct answer: Herpetiform
Herpetiform describes lesions arranged in clusters resembling herpes simplex or zoster eruptions.
Question 4: The arrector pili muscle is responsible for which skin response?
- Sebum production
- Sweat secretion
- Goosebumps (cutis anserina) (Correct answer)
- Melanin synthesis
Correct answer: Goosebumps (cutis anserina)
Contraction of the arrector pili muscle causes hair to stand upright, producing goosebumps (cutis anserina).
Question 5: Which term describes a skin lesion that is flat, non-palpable, and less than 1 cm in diameter?
- Papule
- Macule (Correct answer)
- Plaque
- Nodule
Correct answer: Macule
A macule is a flat, non-palpable color change in the skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter.
Question 6: The term 'onychomycosis' refers to a fungal infection of which structure?
- Skin
- Hair shaft
- Nail (Correct answer)
- Sebaceous gland
Correct answer: Nail
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, derived from 'onycho' (nail) and 'mycosis' (fungal infection).
Question 7: Langerhans cells found in the epidermis primarily function as which cell type?
- Keratin-producing cells
- Antigen-presenting immune cells (Correct answer)
- Melanin-producing cells
- Touch-sensing mechanoreceptors
Correct answer: Antigen-presenting immune cells
Langerhans cells are dendritic antigen-presenting cells of the immune system located in the epidermis.
Question 8: What does the prefix 'erythro-' mean in dermatological terminology?
- White
- Red (Correct answer)
- Black
- Yellow
Correct answer: Red
Erythro- is a Greek prefix meaning red, used in terms like erythroderma (redness of the skin).
Question 9: A comedo is a hallmark lesion of acne vulgaris. What is a comedo?
- A cyst filled with pus
- A plugged hair follicle filled with sebum and dead cells (Correct answer)
- A flat red macule
- A depressed scar
Correct answer: A plugged hair follicle filled with sebum and dead cells
A comedo is a clogged hair follicle (pore) filled with oxidized sebum and dead skin cells, appearing as blackheads or whiteheads.
Question 10: The term 'telangiectasia' describes which vascular skin finding?
- Bruising beneath the skin
- Dilated small superficial blood vessels (Correct answer)
- A benign vascular tumor
- Localized skin pallor
Correct answer: Dilated small superficial blood vessels
Telangiectasias are permanently dilated small blood vessels (capillaries, arterioles, venules) visible near the skin surface.
Question 11: Which skin appendage is responsible for producing the oily substance that lubricates skin and hair?
- Eccrine sweat gland
- Apocrine sweat gland
- Sebaceous gland (Correct answer)
- Merocrine gland
Correct answer: Sebaceous gland
Sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin and hair and is secreted into the hair follicle.
Question 12: What is the correct term for a linear crack or groove in the skin that extends into the dermis?
- Erosion
- Ulcer
- Fissure (Correct answer)
- Excoriation
Correct answer: Fissure
A fissure is a linear crack in the skin that extends through the epidermis into the dermis, often seen on the heels or lips.
Question 13: Merkel cells in the epidermis are associated with which function?
- Pigmentation
- Immune defense
- Light touch sensation (Correct answer)
- Keratin production
Correct answer: Light touch sensation
Merkel cells are slow-adapting mechanoreceptors in the epidermis that detect sustained light touch and pressure.
Question 14: The stratum granulosum is named for the granules it contains. What do these granules primarily contain?
- Melanin
- Keratohyalin (Correct answer)
- Lipid droplets only
- Glycogen
Correct answer: Keratohyalin
The stratum granulosum contains keratohyalin granules that play a key role in the formation of the skin's barrier.
Question 15: A patient presents with a raised, solid lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter with a flat top. This is best described as a:
- Nodule
- Papule
- Plaque (Correct answer)
- Wheal
Correct answer: Plaque
A plaque is a raised, flat-topped skin lesion greater than 1 cm in diameter, often formed by the coalescence of papules.
Question 16: What is the term for the shedding or scaling of the outer layers of the epidermis?
- Exfoliation (desquamation) (Correct answer)
- Excoriation
- Erosion
- Exudation
Correct answer: Exfoliation (desquamation)
Desquamation (exfoliation) is the normal or pathological shedding of the outermost layers of the stratum corneum.
Question 17: The Fitzpatrick skin type scale classifies skin based on which primary characteristic?
- Skin pH level
- Response to UV radiation and tanning ability (Correct answer)
- Degree of skin hydration
- Sebum production rate
Correct answer: Response to UV radiation and tanning ability
The Fitzpatrick scale (Types I–VI) classifies skin by its response to UV exposure, ranging from always burns/never tans to never burns/always tans.
Question 18: Which term describes an area of skin that has lost its epidermis but not its full dermis?
- Ulcer
- Erosion (Correct answer)
- Fissure
- Excoriation
Correct answer: Erosion
An erosion is a superficial loss of epidermis that heals without scarring because the dermis remains intact.
Question 19: The rete ridges (rete pegs) are epidermal projections that interdigitate with the dermis. What is their primary purpose?
- Melanin transport
- Increasing surface area for nutrient exchange and structural adhesion (Correct answer)
- Sebum drainage
- Immune surveillance
Correct answer: Increasing surface area for nutrient exchange and structural adhesion
Rete ridges increase the surface area between the epidermis and dermis, improving nutrient diffusion and mechanical adhesion between the layers.
Question 20: The term 'hyperhidrosis' refers to which condition?
- Abnormally dry skin
- Excessive sweating (Correct answer)
- Deficient melanin production
- Thickened skin
Correct answer: Excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond what is needed for thermoregulation, from the prefix 'hyper-' (excessive) and 'hidrosis' (sweating).
Question 21: Pacinian corpuscles are encapsulated nerve endings found in the deep dermis and hypodermis. They primarily detect:
- Temperature changes
- Pain signals
- Deep pressure and vibration (Correct answer)
- Fine touch
Correct answer: Deep pressure and vibration
Pacinian corpuscles are rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors that detect deep pressure, coarse touch, and high-frequency vibration.
