Contusion and ecchymosis are medical terms with close meanings and apply in almost similar contexts. That explains why people often use them interchangeably, which is incorrect. This contusion vs. ecchymosis article will help you understand the differences between these words.
Ecchymosis is a prominent spot where blood has seeped out of the vessels, causing a purple patch on the skin. In contrast, a contusion is a wound or bruise caused by bleeding underneath the skin. So, ecchymosis is skin discoloration, while contusion is a bruise caused by under-skin bleeding.
The confusion between contusion and ecchymosis stems from the fact that they both include bleeding underneath the skin. However, there are some critical differences between these words. Read on to discover their meanings, differences, and use in various contexts.
Definitions Of Contusion And Ecchymosis
You do not need to be a medical practitioner to understand the definitions of contusion and ecchymosis. The definitions are relatively straightforward, and the best way to understand their differences. Here are the definitions of contusion and ecchymosis:
Definition Of Contusion
A contusion is a wound or bruise where the skin is not broken but discolored from the broken blood vessels underneath it. In simpler terms, a contusion is bruising without any apparent wound or skin opening. Here is an example in a sentence, “The doctor diagnosed the contusion without running any soft-tissue injury diagnosis.”
Another definition of a contusion is “the act of bruising.” It also means “the process of beating, bruising, or going through a beating or bruising.” In a sentence, “The contusion caused a painful wound on my arm.”
Definition Of Ecchymosis
Ecchymosis is a discoloration on the skin caused by a bruise or bleeding beneath the skin. It usually occurs because of damaged blood capillaries. For example, in a sentence, “I developed ecchymosis after bumping my toe on the cupboard.”
Ecchymosis also refers to the leaking of blood from a ruptured vessel into the subcutaneous tissue. Here is an example in a sentence, “The discoloration from ecchymosis will disappear after you place an ice pack on the affected area.”
Another definition for ecchymosis is “a black and blue (livid) spot. The spot comes from the eruption or discharge of blood into the areolate matter. From all the definitions, we can say that ecchymosis occurs only when the beneath of the skin is triggered.
How To Properly Use Contusion And Ecchymosis In A Sentence
For most people, understanding the definitions of new words is the key to constructing sentences using those words. However, if you still struggle even after understanding the definitions, you need not worry. We prepared this section just for you.
How And When To Use Contusion
Let us start by describing the instances in which you can use this word. You can use the word “contusion” in the following contexts:
- Referring to a wound or bruise where the skin is not broken
- Describing the act of discoloration on the skin
Besides the contexts above, something else you should know about using this word is that it comes in various forms. For instance, you can use the plural form, which is contusions. In a sentence, “The contusions on my skin are a result of the cancer medication.”
You can also use the verb form, which is “contuse,” meaning “to injure without breaking the skin. In a sentence, “That fall will contuse your skin.” The plural for contuse is “contuses,” which is the third-person singular simple present indicative form.
How And When To Use Ecchymosis
Here are a few contexts where you can use the word “ecchymosis:”
- Referring to an injury that appears like a swollen area of discolored skin anywhere on the body
- Describing the act of discoloration, especially on a large area on the skin
You can also use various word forms of “ecchymosis.” For instance, the plural for ecchymosis is ecchymoses. An example sentence is, “The ecchymoses on my body make me insecure.”
Other word forms you can use are; ecchymose (verb), meaning “to discolor because of ecchymosis.” Also, ecchymosed the past participle of ecchymose. An example sentence with this word is “Beyond the injuries to my arms, the doctor diagnosed an ecchymosed area on my back.”
Contusion vs. Ecchymosis: More Differences
Contusion and ecchymosis are medical conditions. Besides their definitions in the dictionary, you can differentiate them from elements like causes, risk factors, and treatment. Here are the key differences between contusion and ecchymosis:
Causes
Contusion usually occurs because of an accident or blunt impact on the body. In contrast, ecchymosis occurs when blood from an injured vessel moves into the skin layer. This can happen because of trauma or a medical condition influencing blood clotting, like cancer or hemophilia. Taking medicines that reduce blood clotting can also cause ecchymosis.
Occurrence / Symptom
Ecchymosis usually occurs on a large skin area (usually over 1 cm). The affected area is usually purple and flat. On the other hand, the symptoms of contusion differ depending on where it occurs.
For instance, a contusion can occur on the skin or bodily organs, like the muscles and lungs. The symptoms of lung contusion may include chest pain and breathing problems. Therefore, someone may suffer from internal or external contusion.
Treatment
The treatment for contusion usually differs depending on the location. For instance, internal contusions are treated with supportive care, like oxygen therapy, while you can treat external contusions with ice packs. The treatments also differ depending on the cause.
In contrast, the treatment for ecchymosis depends on the reason. For instance, ecchymosis caused by medication should be treated by changing the prescription. However, you can also use ice packs to treat ecchymosis caused by accidents.
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Examples Of Contusion And Ecchymosis Use In Sentences
The section above should provide all the information you need to form sentences with the words “ecchymosis” and “contusion.” Here are some sentence examples you should look at:
Example sentences of contusion
- The scan revealed a contusion on the opposite side of Marcy’s brain
- The students learned about the accident from the contusion on their parents’ bodies.
- Jamal had a contusion on his collarbone
- Kimberly suffered several injuries from the accident, including a contusion on her tibia.
- The MRI showed a contusion on Simon’s lungs that caused his breathing difficulties and chest pains.
Example sentences of ecchymosis
- Ecchymosis is one of the signs of an orbital injury.
- The cancer medication caused ecchymosis all over my body.
- The medical intervention recommended by Dr. Rachel will cure your ecchymosis.
- Jane experienced several allergic reactions, including ecchymosis, after eating the bowl of soup with nuts.
- The side effects of the IV injection include ecchymosis.
Contusion Vs. Ecchymosis: What Is The Connection?
The connection between these words is in their definition. For instance, both medical conditions cause discoloration on a skin area. The discoloration is usually blue, black, or purple, depending on the specific condition.
Another link is that both conditions stem from bleeding blood vessels underneath the skin. Ecchymosis happens when the blood seems into the skin tissues, while contusion may happen due to broken blood vessels.
Perhaps the most important correlation is that ecchymosis may occur because of a contusion. For instance, broken blood vessels underneath the skin cause contusion, and when the blood from the contusion seeps into the skin matter, it causes ecchymosis.
Conclusion
“Contusion” and “ecchymosis” are medical conditions characterized by skin discoloration. Now that you know their meanings, correlations, and differences, you can use them in the proper contexts. Like these words, the English language features thousands of confusing words. So, if you find this article useful, feel free to suggest other words you would have us clarify.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.