What medical term is commonly used to describe a bruise?

The term commonly used to describe a bruise is "contusion." A contusion occurs when small blood vessels under the skin break due to trauma, causing blood to leak into the surrounding tissues, which results in the characteristic discoloration and swelling that we recognize as a bruise. Contusions can occur on any part of the body and vary in severity based on the extent of the injury.

While "hematoma" can also refer to a localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels, which can look similar to a bruise, it typically implies a more significant accumulation of blood that causes swelling and may need to be drained in some cases. "Ecchymosis" refers to a larger area of bleeding under the skin that is often associated with bruising, but it is a more general term that can encompass various types of tissue bleeding. "Lesion" is a broad term that describes any abnormal tissue change, which could include wounds, spots, or other skin changes, and is not specific to bruising. Therefore, "contusion" is the most accurate term for a bruise.