Acral
Pronunciation: AY-krul
Pertaining to the peripheral or distal parts of the body, specifically the hands, feet, fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
Full Definition
The adjective 'acral' is derived from the Greek 'akros' (topmost, outermost) and is used in dermatology to describe disease distributions or lesion types confined to the extremities. Common acral conditions include acral lentiginous melanoma, acral psoriasis, and the acral skin changes associated with connective tissue disease. Editors must not confuse 'acral' with 'acral' in the compound 'acral lentiginous melanoma' — its scope is anatomical, not pathological. The term is always used as an adjective and is not capitalised except at sentence start.
Usage
Usage note: Always used attributively (e.g., 'acral distribution', 'acral lentiginous melanoma'). Not capitalised. Do not confuse with 'sacral' in transcription.
In Context
- "The lichenoid eruption showed a pronounced acral distribution, with lesions concentrated on the dorsa of the hands and feet." — Dermatology case summary
- "Acral lentiginous melanoma is more common in patients with darker skin phototypes and is often diagnosed at a later stage." — Melanoma awareness publication