Child Physical Abuse
Any bruise is caused by a disruption of blood vessels that results in bleeding under the skin. This bleeding process usually begins immediately upon injury and may last for a brief period of time or continue for hours. Blood that has risen to the surface of the skin causes the customary discoloration that signifies a bruise. Sometimes the vessels that are broken are located deep within the body. These deep bruises may bleed and take hours to emerge. Additionally, they will be very dark in color and will last for days or weeks.
Once bleeding stops, the body begins to break the blood down into components that can be absorbed by it. Hemoglobin, a blood constituent, changes color as it breaks down, thus the age of a bruise can be determined by its shade. In cases of serial abuse, these color changes are central to distinguishing between bruises inflicted at different times. It should be noted that bruises heal and shrink from the outside edges inward.
