Definition

Noun: A spider nevus is a small, benign skin lesion characterized by a central red dot (a dilated arteriole) from which tiny blood vessels (capillaries) radiate outward, resembling a spider's web or a spider's legs.

Usage

This term is used in medical and dermatological contexts to describe a specific type of vascular skin condition. * The dermatologist identified the small, red mark on the patient's cheek as a spider nevus. * Spider nevi can sometimes be associated with liver disease or hormonal changes.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Significance: While often harmless and common, the appearance of multiple spider nevi can be a clinical sign prompting further investigation into underlying conditions such as liver cirrhosis or high estrogen states (e.g., pregnancy).
  • The presence of several new spider nevi led the physician to order liver function tests.

Variants and Related Words

• Spider Angioma: A fully synonymous term.
• Nevus Araneus: The Latin medical term.
• Vascular Spider: A common descriptive synonym.
• Nevus (pl. Nevi): A general term for a circumscribed, stable lesion of the skin or mucosa, which can be vascular (like a spider nevus) or pigmented (like a mole).

Synonyms

• Spider angioma
• Nevus araneus
• Vascular spider

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific medical condition. One could contrast it with terms for other skin lesions (e.g., papule, macule, cyst).

Related Phrases

• "Blanches on pressure": A key diagnostic feature of a spider nevus; when the central dot is pressed, the entire lesion temporarily fades because blood is forced out of the dilated vessels.
  • The doctor confirmed it was a spider nevus because it blanched on pressure.

Noun

1. a dilation of superficial capillaries with a central red dot from which blood vessels radiate