Blackening
Blackening (Medicine)
Blackening (pronunciation: /ˈblækənɪŋ/) is a medical term referring to the darkening or discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, or other tissues. This can occur due to various reasons, including bruising, necrosis, gangrene, or certain skin diseases.
Etymology
The term "blackening" originates from the Old English word "blæc", meaning "black", and the suffix "-ing", indicating an action or result. In a medical context, it refers to the process or result of tissues turning black or dark.
Causes
Blackening can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Bruising: This occurs when blood vessels beneath the skin rupture and leak blood into the surrounding tissues, causing a dark, purplish color.
- Necrosis: This is the death of cells or tissues, often resulting in a black or dark color. Necrosis can be caused by factors such as injury, infection, or lack of blood supply.
- Gangrene: This is a type of necrosis that specifically affects the skin and underlying tissues, often turning them black. Gangrene is usually caused by a severe lack of blood supply, often due to injury, infection, or chronic health conditions like diabetes.
- Skin diseases: Certain skin diseases, such as melanoma or acanthosis nigricans, can cause blackening of the skin.
Related Terms
- Hyperpigmentation: This is a condition in which patches of skin become darker than the surrounding skin due to an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color.
- Hematoma: This is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel, often causing a purplish, bruise-like mark on the skin.
- Melanosis: This refers to a dark discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes, often due to an increased amount of melanin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Blackening
- Wikipedia's article - Blackening
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski