haematoma
Definition
Noun: A localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, typically clotted, causing a swelling or lump in the tissue. It is often the result of a break in a blood vessel wall due to injury.
Usage
A "haematoma" is a medical term for a common type of bruise or internal bleeding where blood pools under the skin or within an organ. It is used to describe the condition itself. - The doctor diagnosed the large, painful bruise on his leg as a haematoma. - A subdural haematoma is a serious condition where blood collects between the brain and its outer covering.
Advanced Usage
- Specific Types: The term is often modified to specify the location.
- A cephalhaematoma is a haematoma on a newborn's head.
- He required surgery for an intracerebral haematoma.
Variants and Related Words
- Hematoma: The American English spelling of the word.
- Haematoma vs. Ecchymosis: While both involve bleeding under the skin, an ecchymosis is a smaller, flat, purple-blue bruise, whereas a haematoma is a larger, often raised, localized collection of blood.
Synonyms
- Blood blister (for small, raised haematomas)
- Contusion (a more general term for a bruise, which can be a haematoma)
Different Meanings
The word "haematoma" has a single, specific medical meaning related to accumulated blood. It does not have common idiomatic or non-literal uses.
Noun
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a localized swelling filled with blood
