American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

Which color indicates a contusion that is in the recent phase?

1. Yellow

2. Red

3. Purple

4. Green

The correct answer is: Purple

A contusion, commonly known as a bruise, undergoes several color changes as it heals. In the recent phase of a contusion, the predominant color is usually red or purple due to blood pooling under the skin from damaged capillaries. This coloration indicates that fresh blood has leaked into the surrounding tissues, creating the recognizable bruise appearance. In the early stages, when the bruise is still fresh, the discoloration is generally purple, often referred to as ecchymosis. This purple color indicates that the injury is recent and that red blood cells have accumulated and broken down in the area. As the bruise heals, it transitions through various colors such as green and yellow, indicating the progressive breakdown of hemoglobin and the clearing of blood from the affected area. Thus, identifying the color associated with the recent phase of a contusion as purple is accurate, as it signifies that the injury has just occurred and the blood is still present in the tissue.