Final answer:
A bruise is a swelling caused by blood under the skin, which can be treated with ice to reduce inflammation. Inflammation includes redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and monitoring these signs is important to detect complications. Edema is related swelling due to fluid accumulation in tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
A swelling caused by blood under the skin is a bruise, which can be reduced by applying ice immediately after the injury. When an injury occurs, a blood vessel may be severed, causing blood and its components, such as erythrocytes and white blood cells, to leak out. This can lead to the signs and symptoms of inflammation, which include localized redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The response to skin injury begins with the formation of a blood clot. Subsequently, processes such as the release of histamine result in increased blood flow to the area, causing the injured tissue to swell and become painful. It's important to monitor for increased redness, swelling, and pain after an injury as these could be indicative of infection or other complications. Edema, another type of swelling, occurs when there is an accumulation of excess water in the tissues, often in the limbs, and is characterized by stretched, tight skin and swelling in the subcutaneous tissues.