contusion
kun-TOO-zhun
/kənˈtjuːʒən/
A region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise.
In sports medicine, a contusion usually refers to a deep muscle bruise caused by a direct blow.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'contundere,' meaning 'to pound' or 'thump.' It implies a heavy, crushing blow that doesn't necessarily break the skin but destroys the vessels underneath.
Word relationships
- bruise: 'Bruise' is the everyday word; 'contusion' is the medical term used for more serious tissue damage.
Commonly confused with
- concussion: Contusion = Bruise (physical tissue damage); Concussion = Brain jarring (functional damage).
Word family
- contuse (verb): To injure a part of the body without breaking the skin.
Collocations
- muscle contusion
- bone contusion
- cerebral contusion
Example sentences
- "He suffered a severe contusion to his thigh after colliding with the goalpost." Describing a heavy blow in a contact sport.
Memory hook
Contusion = Crushing. It's a crushing blow that causes a bruise. A deep, medical bruise.
When not to use
Do not use for a cut or scrape where the skin is broken.
Fun facts
- A 'bone contusion' is actually a bruise on the bone itself and can be more painful and take longer to heal than a muscle bruise.
Related words
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