Question

A condition, often resulting from chest trauma by motor vehicle accident or falling, in which the pleural space is filled with air, is called?

1) Pneumothorax
2) Hemothorax
3) Atelectasis
4) Cardiac tamponade

Answer 1

A pneumothorax is the condition where the pleural space is filled with air due to chest trauma, leading to a collapsed lung, and must be distinguished from other conditions like hemothorax and cardiac tamponade.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition in which the pleural space is filled with air, typically as a result of chest trauma from a motor vehicle accident or a fall, is called a pneumothorax. A pneumothorax happens when air enters the space between the visceral pleura (the layer covering the lungs) and the parietal pleura (the layer lining the interior of the thorax), which is also known as the intrapleural space. This can cause the lung to collapse and is considered a medical emergency. It is crucial to distinguish this from other serious conditions such as hemothorax (where blood fills the pleural space), atelectasis (collapse of part or all of a lung), and cardiac tamponade (where fluid builds within the pericardial space, compressing the heart).