What it means
A blow damages small blood vessels, and blood leaks into the tissue. On the skin it shows as a bruise that changes color as it heals, from red or purple to blue, then green and yellow. Deeper organs can be bruised too: a brain contusion or a lung contusion is a serious injury.
For the nurse
Describe bruises by size, color and location. Bruises in different stages of healing, or in places not usually injured by accident, should make the nurse think about abuse, and nurses are mandated reporters.
At a glance
| Spanish | contusión |
|---|---|
| Also written | contusions |
Related terms
laceration
A cut or tear in the skin or other tissue, often with jagged edges.
hematoma
A collection of blood, often clotted, that has leaked out of the blood vessels into the tissue.
mandatory reporting
A legal duty to report certain things, such as suspected abuse or some diseases, to the proper authorities.