Wound Care Certified Certification (WCC) Practice Exam

What term is used to describe numerous small red macules surrounding a main lesion?

1. Pustule

2. Satellite

3. Plaque

4. Nodule

The correct answer is: Satellite

The term that describes numerous small red macules surrounding a main lesion is "satellite." This is particularly relevant in dermatology, where satellite lesions often indicate a related infectious process or a continuation of the primary lesion. In the context of wound care and skin assessments, recognizing satellite lesions can be crucial for understanding the extent of a condition, the potential for spread, or the nature of an ongoing pathology. The other terms refer to different characteristics of skin lesions: pustules are raised lesions filled with pus, plaques are elevated areas of skin that are often broader than they are thick, and nodules are solid, rounded lumps that can be deeper and more substantial than macules. Each term describes distinct physical properties of lesions that do not apply in this case of surrounding small red macules, which is why "satellite" is the most fitting choice for this description.