Florida Nursing Assistant Competency Pracrice Exam

What is a common cause of ecchymosis?

1. Allergic reaction

2. Excessive exercise

3. Trauma or injury

4. Skin infection

The correct answer is: Trauma or injury

Ecchymosis refers to the discoloration of the skin that occurs when blood seeps into the tissues due to the rupture of blood vessels, commonly resulting from trauma or injury. This can happen from a variety of traumatic events, such as falls, bumps, or blows to the skin. The impact causes blood vessels to break, and the blood leaks into the surrounding tissues, leading to the characteristic purple, blue, or black mark known as a bruise. While allergic reactions, excessive exercise, and skin infections can lead to different skin changes or conditions, they do not typically cause the specific type of discoloration associated with ecchymosis. Allergic reactions may cause hives or rashes, excessive exercise might lead to muscle soreness or strains that don't involve blood vessel rupture, and skin infections are usually marked by redness, swelling, or pus rather than bruising from blood leakage. Hence, the most common cause of ecchymosis is indeed trauma or injury.