Excessive fluid in the body tissues.

Excessive fluid in the body tissues.

• A. Dehydration
• B. Edema
• C. Anuria
• D. Uremia

Answer: (B)

Excess fluid in body tissues is edema. It happens when fluid leaks into the interstitial spaces or isn’t removed efficiently, causing swelling. This stems from an imbalance of forces across capillary walls: higher hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid out into tissues, lower plasma oncotic pressure (often from low albumin) reduces the fluid pulled back into vessels, lymphatic drainage can be blocked, or capillary permeability can increase. In kidney disorders, edema is common because the kidneys may retain salt and water or because protein loss lowers blood albumin, both promoting fluid accumulation in tissues. Dehydration is the opposite process—loss of body water leading to reduced tissue fluid and dryness. Anuria means no urine production, a sign of severe kidney failure or urinary tract obstruction, not tissue fluid accumulation. Uremia refers to the buildup of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure, which may accompany edema but is about toxin retention, not the presence of excess tissue fluid itself.

Excess fluid in body tissues is edema. It happens when fluid leaks into the interstitial spaces or isn’t removed efficiently, causing swelling. This stems from an imbalance of forces across capillary walls: higher hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid out into tissues, lower plasma oncotic pressure (often from low albumin) reduces the fluid pulled back into vessels, lymphatic drainage can be blocked, or capillary permeability can increase. In kidney disorders, edema is common because the kidneys may retain salt and water or because protein loss lowers blood albumin, both promoting fluid accumulation in tissues.

Dehydration is the opposite process—loss of body water leading to reduced tissue fluid and dryness. Anuria means no urine production, a sign of severe kidney failure or urinary tract obstruction, not tissue fluid accumulation. Uremia refers to the buildup of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure, which may accompany edema but is about toxin retention, not the presence of excess tissue fluid itself.