Definition

A tubercle is a small rounded point of a bone. It also refers to a nodule attached to bone, mucous membrane, or skin.

The term "tubercle" is less commonly used to refer to lesions resulting from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Reviewer Info: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. , 02/23/2009