What does haematomata mean?
Haematomata are localized collections of blood, usually clotted, beneath the skin or within an organ or other tissue. The singular is haematoma. This plural form is especially associated with medicine and is often used in the diagnosis or description of multiple blood-filled swellings following injury, surgery, or disease. The word is more precise than bruise because a haematoma can occur deep within the body as well as superficially under the skin, and not every such collection is a bruise in the ordinary sense. The form haematomata is standard in British medical writing, while hematomata or hematomas may be more familiar in American usage. Its unusual ending reflects the influence of Greek and Latin on medical vocabulary, in which Greek-derived terms often retain Greek plural forms.
nounHaematomata are localized collections of blood, usually clotted, that have accumulated beneath the skin or within an organ or other tissue. The word is the plural of haematoma.
- Localized collections of blood, usually clotted, beneath the skin or within an organ or other tissue.
"The scan revealed multiple haematomata in both cerebral hemispheres."
"A fall from the ladder left him with several superficial haematomata."
"The post-traumatic scan showed small intraparenchymal haematomata."
The standard plural of haematoma; haematoma is the singular. The regular plural haematomas is also common, particularly in American usage.
"The radiologist reported multiple haematomata but no fracture."
One localized pocket of trapped blood is a haematoma; several are haematomata, preserving a Greek plural ending in medical terminology.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does haematomata come from?
Haematomata comes from the Latinized medical term haematoma, formed from Greek haima, meaning “blood,” and the suffix -ōma, denoting a swelling or tumour-like mass. English later developed the plural haematomata alongside the regular plural haematomas. Related English words such as haematology, haemoglobin, and haemophilia continue to reflect the same Greek element for blood.
How haematomata is actually used
This is a formal clinical term, normally used for more than one blood collection. In general writing, bruise is often used, although it is not an exact synonym in every medical context. Haematomata is the British-spelled plural; hematomas is also common, especially in American usage.
Easily confused with haematomata
Hematoma is the American spelling and the singular noun, whereas haematomata is the British-spelled plural.