Bruises happen when blood leaks out of your veins and capillaries and pools under your skin because there isn't an opening for the blood to get out of your body. Blood cells called platelets stop your bleeding, but the pool of blood under your skin can change your skin color and cause swelling, pain, and tenderness.

“Ecchymosis” (pronounced “eh-chuh-mow-sis”) is the medical term for a bruise. A bruise, or contusion, is skin discoloration from damaged, leaking blood vessels underneath your skin. Even though there’s blood pooling underneath your skin, you won’t have any external bleeding unless your skin breaks open.

Bruises are a type of bleeding under the skin. A sharp blow, such as from falling or colliding with a large object, can break tiny blood vessels called capillaries. This causes bleeding in the area of the injury. Because the bleeding is under the skin, the area may swell and look red or blue. The bones and soft tissue can bruise.

The meaning of BRUISED is having a bruise or many bruises : damaged or wounded by or as if by being struck.