What is the term for a tiny spiderlike hemorrhage under the skin?

The term for a tiny spiderlike hemorrhage under the skin is "petechiae." These small, red or purple spots occur when tiny blood vessels, known as capillaries, break and leak blood into the surrounding area. Petechiae are often so small that they resemble a rash and can appear in clusters, giving a spiderlike appearance.

Understanding petechiae is important in clinical practice as they can be indicative of various underlying conditions, such as blood clotting disorders, infections, or certain types of trauma that may affect blood vessels. In contrast, other terms such as ecchymosis refer to larger bruises that result from the larger leakage of blood from vessels due to injury, while purpura represents larger areas of discoloration from bleeding under the skin, generally measuring 3 mm or more in diameter. Hemorrhage is a more generalized term that refers to any loss of blood from the circulatory system, which can occur in numerous modalities, not just limited to small vascular ruptures like petechiae.