Injuries

  • Abrasion

    “Scraping type of injury” that is superficial damage to skin or mucous membrane (James et al., 2014).

  • Bruise

    Bleeding beneath the surface of the skin; an accumulation of blood in the tissues outside of the blood vessels (James et al., 2014, p. 567). Typically caused by an injury.

  • Ecchymosis

    Blood leaks from a broken vessel into the surrounding tissue, leaving a flat discoloration under the skin. May be caused by trauma or medical conditions.

  • Hematoma

    A collection of blood outside of the blood vessels. Often, an injury to the blood vessel causes blood to seep out of the vessel into the surrounding tissues. The collection of blood clots outside of the vessel and may appear swollen or raised.

  • Incised wound

    “Injury produced by a sharp instrument and characterized by lack of surface abrasion and absence of bridging vessels, nerves, and smooth margins” (James et al., 2014).

  • Laceration or tear

    Injury that occurs when the “skin is broken and disrupted by blunt force such as tearing, ripping, crushing, overstretching, pulling apart, over-bending, or shearing
    of tissue” (Faugno et al., 2012)

  • Petechiae

    “Multiple hemorrhagic spots, pinpoint to pinhead in size” (Faugno et al., 2012)

  • Scar

    “Fibrous tissue that replaces normal tissue after the healing of a wound” (U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School [AMDCS][DoD], 2017).

  • Sharp force injury

    “Injury to soft tissue or bone caused by sharp-edged or pointed weapon or instrument” (James et al., 2014).