A bluish discoloration of the skin due to extravasation of blood into subcutaneous tissues is commonly called what?

• A. Bruise
• B. Purpura
• C. Petechiae
• D. Hematoma

Answer: (A)

The main idea is understanding what a bluish skin discoloration from bleeding under the skin represents. When blood escapes from vessels into the subcutaneous tissues, the classic result is a bruise, or ecchymosis—a bluish-purple discoloration that forms after trauma as the blood pools and then gradually fades as hemoglobin is broken down. Purpura and petechiae are small red or purple spots caused by tiny bleeds in the skin from capillaries and they’re typically discrete spots rather than a larger contusion; hematoma is a localized collection of blood that creates swelling and a lump rather than just a flat discoloration. So the description most specifically matches a bruise.