Final answer:
A solid mass in the skin that might be elevated or deep, and can be soft or hard as well as fixed or movable, is referred to as a nodule(option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
A solid mass in the skin that may be elevated or deep, soft or hard, fixed or freely movable is called a a) nodule.
The characteristics of a nodule include being a palpable, elevated lesion and often being firmer than a cyst. It differs from other types of lesions, such as cysts, which are encapsulated sacs filled with fluid, semi-solid matter, or gas, typically located just below the upper layers of skin, and papules, which are small raised bumps on the skin. Plaques are flattish, elevated lesions, whereas nodules tend to be more rounded and protruding.