Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bruising: Concepts of Ageing and Interpretation

  • Chapter
Book cover Essentials of Autopsy Practice

Abstract

A bruise may be succinctly defined as a collection of blood, visible to the naked eye as an area of discolouration which has extravasated into surrounding tissues following vascular disruption, principally as a result of trauma or occasionally spontaneously, as a result of a disease process. Typically bruises are caused by blunt trauma, although they may be associated with any type of impact and accompanying all manner of wounds. Thus they can provide a wealth of information to assist the pathologist draw reasonable conclusions as to causation and assist with reconstruction of events leading to death.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Prinsloo I, Gordon I. Post-mortem dissection artefacts of the neck and their differentiation from ante-mortem bruises. S Afr Med J 1951;25:358–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Vanezis P, Brierley C. Facial image comparison of crime suspects using video superimposition. Science and Justice 1996;36:27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Greaves M. Haemorrhage, haemostasis and thrombosis. In: Mason JK, Purdue BN, editors. Pathology of trauma. 3rd ed. London: Arnold, 2000,440–60.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Langlois NEI, Gresham GA. The ageing of bruises: a review and study of the colour changes with time. Forensic Sci Int 1991;50:227–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Stephenson T, Bialas Y. Estimation of the age of bruising. Arch Dis Child 1996;74:53–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Moritz AR. The pathology of trauma. London: Henry Kimpton, 1942,21–34.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Spitz WU, Fisher RS. Medicolegal investigation of death. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas, 1974,124.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Virchow R. Die pathologischen pigmente. Virchows Arch Path Anat 1847; 1:379–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fischer H, Reindel F. Über haematoidin. Hoppe-Seyler Z Physiol Chem 1923;127:299–316.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Langhans F. Beobachtungen über die resorption der extravasate und pigmentbildung in denselben. Virchow Arch Path Anat 1869;49:66.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Neumannn E. Beiträge zur kenntnis der pathologischen pigmente. Virchows Arch 1888;111:25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Walcher K. Über vitale reaktionen. Dtsch Z Gerichtl Med 1930;15:16–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Berg S, Ebel R. Altersbestimmung subcutaner blutungen. Münch Med Wochenschr 1969;111:1185–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Betz P, Eisenmenger W. Morphometrical analysis of hemosiderin deposits in relation to wound age. Int J Legal Med 1996;108:262–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nevelös AB, Gee DJ. Vital reaction in the epithelial connective tissue ground substance. Med Sci Law 1970;10:175–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Raekallio J. Histological estimation of the age of injuries. In: Perper JA and Wecht CH, editos. Microscopic diagnosis in forensic pathology, Ch. 1. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas, 1980, 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mostafa K, Hamdy FE, Deatherage FE, Shinowara GY. Bruised tissue I. Biochemical changes resulting from blunt injury. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1957;95:255–8.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Laiho K. Biochemical and morphological changes in experimental subcutaneous hematomas. Proceedings of the 8th Meeting of the Scandinavian Forensic Society, Vedbaek, Denmark, 1982,141–146.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Vanezis P. Assessing hypostasis by colorimetry. Forensic Sci Int 1991;52:1–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vanezis P, Trujillo O. Evaluation of hypostasis using a colorimeter measuring system and its application to assessment of the post-mortem interval (time of death). Forensic Sci Int 1996;78:19–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Trujillo O, Vanezis P, Cermignani M. Photometric assessment of skin colour and lightness using a tristimulus colorimeter: reliability of inter and intra-investigator observations in healthy adult volunteers. Forensic Sci Int 1996;81:1–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Vanezis P, Trujillo O, Grant P. Lecture to Police Surgeons Association (Autumn Symposium), 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Brunsting LA, Sheard C. The colour of skin as analysed by spectrophotometric methods. J Clin Invest 1929;1:559.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Klein A, Rommeiss, Fischbacher C, Jagemann K-U, Danzer K. Estimating the age of hematomas in living subjects based on spectrometric measurements. In: Oehmichen M, Kirchner H, editors. The wound healing process: forensic aspects. Lubeck: Schmidt–Römhild, 1996,283–291.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Carson DO. The reflectance spectrophotometric analysis of the age of bruising and livor. MSc Thesis, University of Dundee, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Polson C.J. Injuries: general features. In: Polson CJ, Gee DJ, Knight B, editors. The essentials of forensic medicine, 4th ed., Ch. 3,1985,91–147.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mueller B. Zur frage der unterscheidung von vitalen bzw. agonalen und postmortalen blutungen. Acta Med Leg Soc (Liege) 1964;17:43–46.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Laiho K. Immunohistochemical studies on fibrin in vital and postmortem subcutaneous haemorrhages. Ann Acad Sci Fenn [Med] 1967;128:1–85.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Pullar P. The histopathology of wounds. In: Mant AK, editor. Modern trends in forensic medicine, vol. 3. London: Butterworths, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kibayashi K, Hamada K, Honjyo K, Tsunenari S. Differentiation between bruises and putrefactive discolorations of the skin by immunological analysis of glycophorin A. Forensic Sci Int 1993;61:111–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Camps FE. Gradwohl’s legal medicine 2nd ed. John Wright. 1976,265.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Glaister J. Medical jurisprudence and toxicology. Edinburgh: E&S Livingstone, 1973, 242–6.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Smith S, Fiddes FS. Forensic medicine. London: Churchill, 1955, 110–1.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Adelson L. The pathology of homicide. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas, 1974,382.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. P. Vanezis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Pathology, Medico-Legal Centre, Watery Street, Sheffield, UK

    Guy N. Rutty MBBS,MRCPath,DipRCPath (Forensic)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Vanezis, P. (2001). Bruising: Concepts of Ageing and Interpretation. In: Rutty, G.N. (eds) Essentials of Autopsy Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0699-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0699-9_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1181-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-0699-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation