2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/5304In these lectures I present a highly opinionated review of the observed patterns of metallicity and element abundance ratios in nearby spiral, irregular, and dwarf elliptical galaxies, with connection to a number of astrophysical issues associated with chemical evolution. I also discuss some of the observational and theoretical issues associated with measuring abundances in H II regions and gas and stellar surface densities in disk galaxies. Finally, I will outline a few open questions that deserve attention in future investigations.48 pages, 21 postscript figures, uses CUP conference style (included); invited review for the XIII Canary Islands Winter School on AstrophysicsAstrophysicstext