Which term describes a small bruise?

• A. Sagittal plane
• B. Occlusion
• C. Petechia
• D. Nystagmus

Answer: (C)

Petechiae are tiny hemorrhages in the skin that create small red or purple spots, describing a very small bruise. They’re typically less than about 2 millimeters in size and occur when capillaries leak blood into the skin. This makes them distinct from larger bruises known as ecchymoses and from other skin findings.

Why this fits: a small bruise is essentially a tiny area where blood has escaped from vessels into surrounding tissue, which is exactly what petechiae are. The other terms refer to things unrelated to skin blemishes: the sagittal plane is an anatomical divider of the body, occlusion means blockage, and nystagmus is involuntary eye movement.