lesion
LEE-zhun
/ˈliːʒən/
A region in an organ or tissue that has suffered damage through injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, or tumor.
A broad umbrella term for any localized structural damage, ranging from a skin scratch to a brain plaque.
The story behind the word. Traced to Latin 'laesio', meaning 'injury' or 'hurt', derived from the verb 'laedere' (to strike or injure). Entered English via Old French in the 15th century, retaining its literal meaning of tissue damage.
Word relationships
- wound: 'Wound' usually implies physical external trauma, while 'lesion' includes internal disease processes.
- injury: 'Injury' is general harm, whereas 'lesion' specifically refers to localized tissue alteration.
- intact tissue: Intact tissue represents unharmed, healthy structure.
Commonly confused with
- tumor: All tumors are lesions, but not all lesions are tumors (a scrap or cold sore is also a lesion).
Collocations
- skin lesion
- brain lesion
- focal lesion
- suspicious lesion
Example sentences
- "The dermatologist evaluated the suspicious skin lesion for signs of irregularity." Dermatology exam.
- "MRI scans revealed several small demyelinating lesions scattered across the patient's brain tissue." Neurology scanning.
Memory hook
LESION rhymes with 'collision'—a collision causes a severe lesion (injury). Lesion = Hurt or damaged spot.
When not to use
Do not use 'lesion' to describe systemic or non-localized disorders like general fever or body fatigue.
Fun facts
- Botanists also use the word 'lesion' to describe localized discolored patches on plant leaves caused by fungal infections.
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