Which term describes swelling due to fluid accumulation in the body's tissues?

Which term describes swelling due to fluid accumulation in the body's tissues?

• A. Edema
• B. Hematoma
• C. Anemia
• D. Thrombosis

Answer: (A)

Swelling from fluid accumulating in tissue is edema. It happens when fluid leaks out of capillaries into the surrounding interstitial spaces or when the lymphatic system can’t remove that fluid efficiently, leading to increased tissue volume. Edema often shows up as puffiness in areas like the ankles, feet, or around the eyes, and it may be soft and indent a bit when pressed (pitting edema). The other terms describe different problems: a hematoma is a localized collection of blood from a vessel rupture, causing swelling and discoloration; anemia is a low red blood cell or hemoglobin count with symptoms related to oxygen delivery; thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a vessel, which can cause swelling by impairing return flow but is not the description of fluid buildup in tissues itself.

Swelling from fluid accumulating in tissue is edema. It happens when fluid leaks out of capillaries into the surrounding interstitial spaces or when the lymphatic system can’t remove that fluid efficiently, leading to increased tissue volume. Edema often shows up as puffiness in areas like the ankles, feet, or around the eyes, and it may be soft and indent a bit when pressed (pitting edema). The other terms describe different problems: a hematoma is a localized collection of blood from a vessel rupture, causing swelling and discoloration; anemia is a low red blood cell or hemoglobin count with symptoms related to oxygen delivery; thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a vessel, which can cause swelling by impairing return flow but is not the description of fluid buildup in tissues itself.