Letter C

Contusion

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Another name for a bruise.

What is a bruise ? A bruise, or contusion, is caused when blood vessels are damaged or broken as the result of a blow to the skin (be it bumping against something or hitting yourself with a hammer).

The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured blood vessels into the tissues as well as from the body's response to the injury.

A purplish, flat bruise that occurs when blood leaks out into the top layers of skin is referred to as an ecchymosis.

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