Which of the following indicates tenderness during a secondary assessment?

Tenderness during a secondary assessment refers specifically to the discomfort or pain experienced by a patient when a healthcare provider applies pressure or touch to a specific area of the body. This response is critical for assessing injuries and understanding the potential extent of a patient's condition.

When a patient exhibits pain upon touch, it could signal underlying issues such as inflammation, injury, or trauma in that particular area. Recognizing tenderness helps responders determine the severity of the condition and informs subsequent decisions regarding treatment or further medical evaluation.

In contrast, the other options—swollen areas, visible bruising, and discoloration—while important indicators of injury, do not directly assess the patient's response to touch, which is a crucial aspect of determining tenderness. Swelling can imply the presence of injury but does not capture the patient's experience of pain. Similarly, bruising and discoloration may indicate trauma but do not directly correlate with tenderness as assessed through palpation. Thus, the correct answer highlights a critical clinical assessment tool used during evaluations of patient injuries.