Utah Esthetics Written State Practice Exam

What are hematomas commonly known as?

1. Scars

2. Bumps

3. Bruises

4. Swellings

The correct answer is: Bruises

Hematomas are commonly known as bruises due to the way they visually present on the skin after an injury. When blood vessels are damaged, blood leaks into the surrounding tissues, resulting in discoloration that is typically purple, blue, or black in appearance. This discoloration is characteristic of what we recognize as a bruise. The term "hematoma" specifically refers to a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel, and while it can lead to swelling and can feel like a bump under the skin, the most recognizable and immediate association is with bruising. In contrast, scars refer to the marks left on the skin after healing from wounds, swellings can indicate any generalized increase in tissue volume due to various causes, and bumps can be a more generic term that refers to any raised area on the skin without the specific implications of trauma and bleeding associated with bruises. Thus, the term ‘bruise’ is the most accurate and widely understood descriptor for hematomas.