How is a contusion commonly defined?

A contusion is commonly defined as a closed wound caused by a blow to the body, resulting in a bruise. This occurs when small blood vessels are damaged and bleed under the skin without breaking the surface. As a result, the skin remains intact while discoloration and swelling can occur in the area of impact. Understanding this definition is important for identifying and managing soft tissue injuries in clinical practice, especially in emergency and trauma settings, where recognizing the nature of injuries helps inform treatment decisions.

The other options do not accurately describe a contusion; for instance, an open wound with exposed tissues refers to lacerations or abrasions, while a fracture resulting from a blow describes a break in the bone rather than soft tissue damage. A superficial injury with no bleeding would not be classified as a contusion since it downplays the significant vascular damage that defines such injuries.