Which of the following defines a contusion?

A contusion is defined as a closed soft tissue injury, typically resulting from a direct blow or collision that causes blood vessels to rupture, leading to bleeding beneath the skin. This pooling of blood creates the characteristic discoloration associated with a bruise, which is an essential aspect of a contusion. Unlike an open wound, where the skin is broken and there is an external source for bleeding, a contusion remains intact on the surface, making it a closed injury.

This definition distinguishes a contusion from other conditions, such as an open wound, which involves an external breach in the skin, and a chronic condition of the skin, which refers to ongoing skin issues rather than an acute injury. Similarly, a type of infection would involve a pathogen and typically presents with different symptoms and characteristics. Thus, the correct understanding of a contusion aligns with it being a closed injury involving soft tissue damage without the skin being broken.