Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

An excessive increase in interstitial fluid is referred to as what condition?

1. Pneumonia

2. Turgor

3. Edema

4. Congestive heart failure

The correct answer is: Edema

The condition characterized by an excessive increase in interstitial fluid is known as edema. Edema occurs when there is an imbalance in the mechanisms that regulate fluid movement across blood vessels, leading to an accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces, which are the areas between cells. This can result from various factors such as increased hydrostatic pressure, decreased oncotic pressure, or increased permeability of the blood vessels. In contrast, while pneumonia might involve fluid in the lungs, it does not specifically refer to interstitial fluid accumulation in the tissues. Turgor refers to the pressure of the fluid within the cells, often assessed in plant cells or can indicate hydration status in animal cells, but is not a term used to describe excessive interstitial fluid. Congestive heart failure can lead to edema as a symptom, but it is a broader medical condition tied to the heart's inability to pump effectively, rather than the specific term for fluid accumulation itself.