“Bullet” is a type of bruise formed over the bone of the skull. When we take a hit, blood vessels that run under the skin break and blood leaks out. Leakage can cause two types of injury: ecchymosis (when blood flows between muscles and bones) and hematoma (when blood is trapped, like in a bag). In parts of the body where the skin is very close to the bone (head and shins, mainly), the small blood bag causes the skin to rise, forming a lump – after all, it is easier to push the skin than the bone. Naturally, the blood is reabsorbed into the blood vessels, and the bruise disappears after a few days. As the blood is absorbed, the “purple” of the hematoma changes color, thanks to the decrease in the level of iron in the area. In extreme cases, when blood is not naturally absorbed, the blood clot needs to be extracted with the knife itself. But for doctors, «bump» is a good sign: it indicates that blood has not leaked into the brain. In any case, very large lumps that take a long time to settle down should be evaluated by a doctor, as violent blows can crack the skull.
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1 – All the bones in the body are covered by a tissue full of nerves and blood vessels called the periosteum. On the head, this tissue is very close to the skin (in this case, the scalp), while on the thigh, for example, it is covered by muscle and fat and is therefore much more protected.
2 – When a violent blow hits the head, several small vessels burst and blood leaks. If the blow is strong enough to reach arteries of the periosteum, a pocket of coagulated blood forms under this tissue – since the blood cannot penetrate the skull bone – and pushes the skin
3 – By placing ice or anything cold on the “bump”, the thickness of the vessels decreases and less blood “leaks” at the site – therefore, the tactic of placing the blade of a knife on the bruise really works. Then the accumulated blood begins to slowly ooze between the cells and the bruise begins to disappear.
4 – Really strong blows can open cracks in the skull and blood can leak into it. In that case, it accumulates in the dura mater, the film that covers the skull from the inside. That’s why doctors love it when bumps create bumps: it’s a sign that blood hasn’t entered the skull.