Slow oozing of dark red blood that may be mixed with clearish fluid describes which type of bleed?

• A. Venous bleed
• B. Capillary bleed
• C. Arterial bleed
• D. None of the above

Answer: (B)

The description fits capillary bleeding. Capillaries are the smallest, low-pressure vessels, so when they’re damaged the blood tends to ooze out slowly rather than spurting. The blood often appears dark red and can mix with tissue fluid or plasma, giving a lighter, clearish component along with the blood. This contrasts with arterial bleeding, which is bright red and usually spurts with each heartbeat due to high pressure, and venous bleeding, which is darker red and tends to ooze more steadily but not as forcefully as an artery. In practice, slow oozing from minor wounds is most characteristic of capillary bleeding and is typically controlled easily with direct pressure.