American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

What characteristic defines a contusion?

1. Sharp cuts that penetrate skin

2. Bruisation without breaking the skin

3. Tearing of tissue

4. Pressure injuries

The correct answer is: Bruisation without breaking the skin

A contusion is specifically defined as a type of bruise resulting from the impact of a blunt object, which leads to bleeding under the skin without breaking the skin's surface. This occurs because the small blood vessels (capillaries) are damaged, allowing blood to leak into the surrounding tissues, resulting in discoloration and swelling. The key characteristic of a contusion is that the skin remains intact, distinguishing it from cuts or abrasions. In contrast, sharp cuts reference lacerations, which involve a break in the skin and are not indicative of a contusion. Tissue tearing pertains to more significant injuries that affect deeper structures, reflecting a different mechanism of injury. Pressure injuries, often related to prolonged pressure on the skin, also do not encapsulate the nature of a contusion and involve different pathological processes. Thus, bruising without breaking the skin is the defining characteristic that accurately describes a contusion.