North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What is the presentation of external bleeding from a capillary vessel?

1. Bright red and spouting

2. Dark red and oozing

3. Clear and watery

4. Thick and yellowish

The correct answer is: Dark red and oozing

External bleeding from a capillary vessel is characterized by dark red and oozing blood. Capillary bleeding occurs when the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries, are damaged. These vessels are responsible for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste at the tissue level. When they rupture, the blood does not flow out in jets or spurts, as would be the case with arterial bleeding, nor does it flow freely like venous bleeding would. Instead, the bleeding is slow and oozes out more like a drip, often appearing darker due to the lower oxygen content of the blood. The presentation of dark red, oozing blood signifies that the injury is less severe compared to arterial or venous bleeding, where you would expect bright red and spouting or free-flowing blood, respectively. The other descriptions provided do not accurately represent the nature of capillary bleeding and its presentation in terms of color and flow characteristics.