Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which term is used to describe the combination of bruising that leads to Grey-Turner’s sign?

1. Subcutaneous hematoma

2. Acute hemorrhage

3. Flank ecchymosis

4. Peritoneal bleeding

The correct answer is: Flank ecchymosis

The term used to describe the combination of bruising that leads to Grey-Turner’s sign is flank ecchymosis. Grey-Turner’s sign refers specifically to the appearance of bruising or ecchymosis situated along the flanks, indicating potential hemorrhage or bleeding within the abdominal cavity, particularly in cases of retroperitoneal bleeding. Flank ecchymosis occurs as a result of the blood tracking down from the retroperitoneal space, often associated with processes such as pancreatitis or renal trauma. This sign can help clinicians identify serious underlying conditions that may require immediate medical intervention, further underscoring its clinical significance. The other terms mentioned, while they describe various forms of bruising or hemorrhage, do not specifically refer to the characteristic pattern of bruising seen with Grey-Turner’s sign. Subcutaneous hematoma refers to a localized swelling filled with blood outside of blood vessels, acute hemorrhage denotes a burst of bleeding, and peritoneal bleeding describes blood within the peritoneal cavity. Each of these conditions indicates bleeding but does not distinctly relate to the flank bruising characteristic of Grey-Turner’s sign.