Which term describes dark red blood oozing from a wound, indicating capillary damage?

• A. Capillary bleeding
• B. Bruising
• C. Caliber
• D. Bloodborne pathogens

Answer: (A)

Capillary bleeding describes the oozing of blood from a wound due to damage to the tiny capillaries. Capillaries are the smallest vessels, so when they’re injured the blood leaks out slowly and steadily, often appearing dark red as it seeps into surrounding tissue. This contrasts with arterial bleeding, which spurts bright red blood, and venous bleeding, which flows steadily and may be darker red. Bruising is not active bleeding from a wound—it’s blood that has leaked into surrounding tissue and shows up as discoloration later. Bloodborne pathogens are diseases transmitted by blood and not related to how the bleeding appears. So the dark red, slow oozing from a wound is best described as capillary bleeding.