ecchymosis
/,eki'mousis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A patient has a large ecchymosis on their forearm after bumping into a table.
Definition
- Noun:
- A medical term for a bruise: "ecchymosis" refers specifically to the discoloration of the skin caused by blood leaking from ruptured capillaries into the surrounding tissue.
- The process of bruising: It can also denote the escape of blood itself from damaged blood vessels into the interstitial tissue.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The patient presented with a large ecchymosis on the thigh following the fall.
- Ecchymosis is a common sign in cases of physical trauma.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Diagnosis: In clinical settings, the pattern or location of an ecchymosis can provide diagnostic clues.
- Periorbital ecchymosis, often called "raccoon eyes," can indicate a skull base fracture.
Variants and Related Words
- Ecchymotic (adj): Relating to or characterized by ecchymosis.
- The skin had an ecchymotic appearance.
Synonyms
- Bruise: A more common, non-technical term for a similar condition.
- Contusion: A medical synonym often used interchangeably with ecchymosis, though sometimes specifying a deeper tissue injury.
- Hematoma: A localized collection of blood outside the vessels, often forming a raised lump, which can be a related but distinct condition.
Idioms and Common Phrases
(This term is highly technical and specific to medical contexts; it is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.)
A patient has a large ecchymosis on their forearm after bumping into a table.
Noun
- the escape of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the surrounding tissue to form a purple or black-and-blue spot on the skin
- the purple or black-and-blue area resulting from a bruise