Macule

Macule
A small localized change in the color of skin that is neither raised (elevated) nor depressed. Macules are never large. They are basically little spots or blemishes in the skin. They are entirely flat and can only be appreciated by visual inspection; they cannot be seen from the side, just from above. Dermatologists (and other physicians) call small flat skin spots on the skin macules, as opposed to papules which are small solid bumps that rise up above the surrounding skin and vesicles which are small blisters that contain fluid (before they burst). The word macule comes from the Latin macula meaning a small spot or blemish. The macula lutea (yellow spot), usually referred to simply as the macula, is a spot in the retina (where vision is keenest).
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SYN: macula. [L. macula, spot]
- ash-leaf m. a hypopigmented, often ash leaf-shaped m. that is present at birth in many patients with tuberous sclerosis.

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mac·ule 'mak-(.)yü(ə)l n
1) MACULA (2)
2) a patch of skin that is altered in color but usu. not elevated and that is a characteristic feature of various diseases (as smallpox)

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n.
a flat circumscribed area of skin or an area of altered skin colour (e.g. a freckle). Compare papule.

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mac·ule (makґūl) a discolored skin lesion that is not elevated above the surface; see also patch and spot. Called also macula.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • macule — MACULE. s. f. Terme de l Escriture sainte. On s en sert au propre en parlant des victimes qu on choisissoit pour les sacrifices dans l ancienne loy, & alors il signifie, Tache, & en ce sens on dit, Il faloit choisir une victime sans macule, un… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • macule — Macule, f. antepenacut. Labes Macula. Recevoir quelque macule et tache, Maculam concipere. Sans macule, Incontaminatus, Intemeratus …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Macule — Mac ule, n. [F. macule. See {Macula}.] 1. A spot. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. (Print.) A blur, or an appearance of a double impression, as when the paper slips a little; a mackle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Macule — et tache. La macule est une lésion cutanée sous forme d une tache de couleur et de taille variables. Elle ne présente pas de relief notable à la surface de la peau. Sommaire 1 Descrip …   Wikipédia en Français

  • macule — (n.) blemish, spot, late 15c., from L. macula (see MACULA (Cf. macula)), perhaps via Fr. macule …   Etymology dictionary

  • Macule — Mac ule, v. t. [Cf. F. maculer. See {Maculate}, v.] To blur; especially (Print.), to blur or double an impression from type. See {Mackle}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maculé — maculé, ée (ma ku lé, lée) part. passé de maculer. Feuilles maculées.    Terme d histoire naturelle. Qui est marqué de taches de couleur différente de celle du fond …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • maculé — Maculé, [macul]ée. part …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • macule — [mak′yo͞ol΄] n. [ME] MACULA …   English World dictionary

  • macule — 1. macule [ makyl ] n. f. • XIIIe; lat. macula « tache » 1 ♦ Vx Souillure, tache. « Les macules des âmes » (Voltaire). 2 ♦ Salissure, trace d encre sur le papier. ⇒ bavure, maculage. 3 ♦ Méd. Tache plane, rouge, sur la peau. ⇒ érythème …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • macule — (ma ku l ) s. f. 1°   Tache. Papier plein de macules. 2°   Terme d astronomie. Taches qu on découvre sur le disque du soleil. 3°   Fig. Souillure. •   Ainsi lorsque de sa maison Oreste eut vengé la macule Sur sa mère..., SCARR. Virg. IV. •   L… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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