Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

In cases of edema, which of the following typically occurs?

1. Decreased interstitial fluid

2. Increased interstitial fluid

3. Decreased blood volume

4. Increased cell size

The correct answer is: Increased interstitial fluid

In cases of edema, the primary characteristic is an increased volume of interstitial fluid. Edema occurs when there is an imbalance in the forces that regulate the movement of fluid between the blood vessels and the surrounding tissues. This can happen due to various factors such as increased hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries, decreased oncotic pressure in the blood vessels, or increased permeability of capillaries, leading to excess fluid accumulating in the interstitial spaces. The accumulation of this excess fluid results in swelling and can affect the normal functioning of tissues. Understanding edema involves recognizing how fluid homeostasis is disrupted, which leads to a state where the amount of liquid in the interstitial spaces exceeds normal levels, hence the correct choice reflects an increase in interstitial fluid.