A patient asks the health care provider why his lower legs look purple. The health care provider will base her response on which pathophysiological principle?
A) Too much trauma breaks capillaries, and they bleed into the tissue.
B) The bruising around the ankles is due to the fact that it is a dependent area where the capillary pressure is higher.
C) There is a problem with his plasminogen levels.
D) Morbid obesity causes veins to enlarge and bleed into tissues due to stress the abdomen is placing on the vascular system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cutaneous bleeding is seen as pinpoint hemorrhages and purple areas of bruising in dependent areas where the capillary pressure is higher. There is no indication that the patient has experienced trauma to the area or is morbidly obese. Plasminogen helps with clot dissolution.

A Patient Asks the Health Care Provider Why His Lower