characteristics: petechiae are tiny, perfectly round, red-purple spots that appear as result of minute intradermal or submucosal hemorrhage; purpura refers to focal, circumscribed hemorrhagic lesions in the mucosa that are larger than petechiae but smaller than 1cm -- associated w/ platelet abnormalities, bleeding disorders, trauma, or Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever -- symptom rather than disease entity; ecchymoses are hemorrhagic spots caused by extravasation of blood into tissue -- larger than 1cm -- associated w/ bleeding disorders and hemophilia