What are Petechiae?

Petechiae are defined as small, pinpoint hemorrhages that appear as tiny red, purple, or brown spots on the skin. They result from bleeding underneath the skin, often due to small blood vessels, called capillaries, breaking. This can occur for various reasons, including trauma, certain medical conditions that affect blood clotting, or infections.

The other options do not accurately describe petechiae. Large bruises formed after trauma are typically more extensive and indicate a larger area of bleeding beneath the skin, which is not characteristic of petechiae. Swelling caused by fluid retention refers to edema, which is related to fluid accumulation in tissues, rather than specific blood vessel breakage. Color changes due to embalming fluids relate to the alteration of tissue appearance post-mortem, which does not pertain to the definition or characteristics of petechiae. Thus, the correct answer captures the essential nature of petechiae effectively.