system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What happens when a bruise heals?

I understand that bruises are formed by small amounts of blood being released into the tissue beneath the skin, but where does that blood go as the bruise fades?
gpt
The short answer is that a number of cells are recruited to “eat” and otherwise break down the debris, especially the erythrocytes, which are ultimately either recycled in part or excreted as waste after processing in the liver/spleen. In particular the “eating” is carried out by leukocytes which are recruited to the area via the inflammatory process. Depending on severity and location of the bruise there might be some residual staining from the liberated iron, but that will usually also fade with time in a healthy person.