Final answer:
A bruise, also known as a contusion, is an area of discolored skin that results from blood vessels rupturing and leaking blood beneath the skin after an injury. This leakage is part of the inflammation process, which also involves the dilation of blood vessels and the release of chemicals that attract white blood cells to the site.
Step-by-step explanation:
An area of discolored skin that appears after an injury causing blood vessels to rupture beneath the skin and leak is known as a bruise or a contusion. When a blood vessel is severed, blood and blood components such as erythrocytes (red blood cells) and leukocytes (white blood cells) leak out of the breaks, causing a visible discoloration.
This is part of the inflammation process, where the body reacts to the injury and tissues are damaged, resulting in the dilation of nearby blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the area, leading to redness and warmth.
In more severe cases, this process can also result in more serious skin conditions such as petechiae, which are small red or purple spots on the skin that result from significant blood leaking from the damaged blood vessels.