Which term describes excessive bleeding?

• A. Hematocrit
• B. Lateral
• C. Incontinence
• D. Hemorrhage

Answer: (D)

Excessive bleeding is described by the term hemorrhage. This word comes from blood (hem/o) and bursting forth (-rrhage), signaling rapid blood loss that can be outside the body or internal. In medical use you might hear hemorrhagic to describe something involving heavy bleeding. The other terms don’t describe bleeding: hematocrit is a lab measure of the proportion of red blood cells in blood; lateral means toward the side; incontinence is the loss of control of urine or feces.