What is the medical term for excessive or profuse bleeding?

The medical term for excessive or profuse bleeding is "hemorrhage." This term is specifically used to describe the loss of a significant amount of blood from the circulatory system, which can occur internally or externally. Hemorrhage can result from various factors, including trauma, medical conditions, or surgical complications and may vary in its severity.

The other terms, while related to blood or bleeding, do not accurately define excessive bleeding. Hemostasis refers to the process of blood clotting and stopping bleeding, which is the body's natural response to hemorrhage. Bloodletting is an outdated medical practice aimed at treating illnesses by withdrawing blood, and it does not relate to the concept of excessive bleeding in a modern context. Embolism, on the other hand, refers to the obstruction of a blood vessel by a foreign body or clotted blood, which may lead to complications but is not a direct reference to bleeding. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in medical terminology, especially in contexts dealing with patient care and clinical scenarios.