Hematoma Vs. Bruise: Meaning And How To Use Each One

Differentiating a bruise and a hematoma can be difficult because they look similar, but the reality is they are not the same. Even with some anatomical knowledge, some people cannot explain the differences between the two. So, the hematoma vs. bruise overview below will give you an idea of what these two are all about.

A hematoma is a swelling of clotted blood that forms when a blood vessel breaks and blood pools out underneath the skin. In contrast, a bruise is a purple discoloration on the skin due to bleeding underneath the skin. It can occur in muscles and bones. Hematomas are severer and can last longer.

“Hematoma” and “bruise” are standard terms in the medical profession. However, their similarities can be confusing even to medical experts. So, read on for clarification between these words and their applications.

Definitions Of Hematoma And Bruise

Many people use the words “hematoma” and “bruise” in place of each other since they assume the words are alike. In fact, their definitions are also quite similar. If you are keen enough, you may notice distinct differences in their definitions; but not everyone does. So, we have detailed the section below with comprehensive definitions of hematoma and bruise.

Definition Of Hematoma

A hematoma is a localized mass of extravasated blood relatively or entirely confined within an organ or tissue. The hematoma may include clotted blood and may manifest some degrees of decolorization on the affected area, depending on how long it has been there.

For example, in a sentence, “Drawing blood for a medical test may cause slight bleeding at the puncture site, which may accumulate into a hematoma.”

Another definition of hematoma is “a swelling of blood (usually clotted) that develops from blood pooling out of a broken blood vessel underneath the skin.” A hematoma may also occur due to bleeding from a vascular bodily structure, like a body organ.

Here is a sentence example, “Infants are more susceptible to subdural hematoma than adults and older kids.”

Medics are fond of referring to a hematoma as an abnormal blood buildup in an organ or other bodily tissues caused by a break in a blood vessel. Note that its symptoms may differ depending on where it occurs.

Definition Of Bruise

In medicine, a bruise is a purple discoloration on the skin due to blood leaking from capillaries underneath the skin or damaged blood flow. In a sentence, “The bruise was quite painful when it first occurred.”

As a verb, a bruise means “to strike someone with something flat or heavy in such a way that it discolors their skin without breaking it.” For example, “The boxer wants to bruise his opponent.”

Bruise also means “to damage the skin of fruit by blowing its surface, causing a dark mark.” An example sentence is, “The bruise on the fruit was not there when we closed the kitchen last night.”

In a winery, to bruise means “to pound or crush berries into fragments” or crush something with a mortar and pestle.” Let’s look at a sentence example, “The wine workers will bruise the berries as soon as they get back from the meeting.”

The unofficial meaning of bruise is “an injury to one’s feelings or spirit. For example, “Such comments will bruise a child’s emotions.”

Lastly, a bruise is “a painful feeling caused by or linked with an experience.” For instance, in a sentence, “Unless you want to bruise your ego, you should not visit the Martinas.”

Hematoma Vs. Bruise: What Are The Differences?

A hematoma can occur under the skin or deep within the body, depending on the source of the bleeding. So, when it happens deep within the body, you may be unable to tell of its existence without further tests.

While they may look alike, a hematoma may display different symptoms, depending on where it happens. Therefore, a hematoma on a vital body organ may not show the same symptoms as a bruise. However, a hematoma directly underneath the skin may look like a bruise.

Another difference is that a hematoma is usually more severe than a bruise. That means that its symptoms may be more severe even when it occurs on the skin. A hematoma on a vital body organ can be life-threatening, with symptoms like confusion, headache, dizziness, seizure, or slurred speech.

Bruises usually occur from accidental injuries, and their symptoms develop soon after the injury. However, the risk factors for developing bruises include age, medication, or bleeding disorders. In contrast, hematomas develop from trauma, surgery, ruptured aneurysms, and painful experiences, like a vaginal delivery. However, its risk factors are similar to those of bruises.

One more thing: bruises may not require medical treatment because they are minor. Instead, you can treat them with an ice pack or by applying moderate heat to the affected area. In contrast, medical professionals treat mild hematoma with medication and internal or severe hematomas with surgical procedures.

How To Properly Use Hematoma And Bruise In A Sentence

You do not have to be a medical professional to use terms like “hematoma” and “bruise.” All you need to do is understand their meanings and how you can use them. Here are a few tips:

How and When to Use Hematoma

You can use hematoma in a sentence as a noun when referring to an injury appearing as a swollen or discolored area on the skin or internal bodily organs.

How And When To Use Bruise

There are many instances of using the word “bruise.” For instance, here are the contexts where you can use this word as a noun:

• An injury appearing like a swollen discoloration on the skin
• A mark caused by grazing or injury
• Physical damage to the skin or a plant

You can also use it as a verb in the following contexts:

• To cause a bruise
• To discolor by applying pressure
• To injure or hurt someone physically or emotionally
• To crush into fine particles or lose color

Examples Of Hematoma And Bruise In Sentences

Here are some sentence examples you should check out. Note that these examples are based on different contexts.

Example sentences of hematoma

1. A hematoma, sometimes known as a blood clot, may occur in the brain due to an accident. 
2. One of the signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome in infants is a subdural hematoma, which may lead to death. 
3. The surgeon did not remove the hematoma because of its location on a vital body organ. 
4. Maria developed a hematoma in her stomach region from the constant physical abuse from her husband.
5. Blunt head trauma from accidents, abuse, or falls can cause hematoma on vital body organs, like the brain.

Example sentences of a bruise

1. After months of avoiding her family, Jane returned with a bruise on her cheek. 
2. The rash looks like a bruise on Jane because of her dark skin. 
3. What is the difference between a bruise and ecchymosis?
4. Mark woke up in the hospital with a large bruise and sore ribs after the accident.
5. I am proud of my son for doing the heavy lifting alone without sustaining a bruise. 

Conclusion

The correlation between a bruise and hematoma is their appearance. A bruise looks like a hematoma when it occurs on the skin. However, a hematoma may also appear on internal organs and is more severe. While both words are nouns, you may use bruise as a verb in a few contexts, as explained above.

Now that you know how to differentiate these words, the next time you are injured, you will know what word to use when describing the injury. So, from this article, do you understand the difference between hematoma and bruise?