Bruise

A bruise or contusion or ecchymosis is a kind of injury, usually caused by blunt impact, in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. Normally minor but painful, bruises can be serious, leading to hematoma, or can be associated with serious injuries, including fractures and internal bleeding. Minor bruises are easily recognized by their characteristic blue or purple color in the days following the injury.

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The word "bruise" is also used for fruit - a fruit is bruised when an impact breaks the internal water-containing structures, leading to a soft spot. More generally, "bruise" is used metaphorically to mean any minor injury: one's ego might be bruised if one's painting was not included in a gallery showing, for example. The implication is that the injury is minor but painful, but will recover on its own.

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The presence of bruises may be seen in patients with platelet or coagulation disorders. Unexplained bruising may be a warning sign of child abuse or serious medical problems, such as leukemia and meningoccocal infection. Anybody with unexplained bruising needs urgent examination by a doctor.

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Injury: Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical....

Capillaries: redirect Capillary...

Blood: Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Medical terms related to blood often begin in hemo- or hemato- (BE: haemo- and haemato-) from the Greek word "haima" for "blood"....