Which term means a collapsed lung due to air in the pleural space?

Which term means a collapsed lung due to air in the pleural space?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Postural vital signs
• C. Polyp
• D. Prolapsed

Answer: (A)

A pneumothorax is a collapsed lung caused by air entering the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung and chest wall. Normally this space holds a tiny amount of air that helps keep the lung expanded by maintaining negative pressure. When air leaks into that space, the pressure balance is disrupted, and the lung on the affected side can collapse or partially collapse, reducing its ability to inflate and exchange oxygen. This condition can occur spontaneously or after trauma, and there’s a dangerous form called a tension pneumothorax where air builds up and shifts the chest contents, needing urgent care. The other terms aren’t related to lung collapse: postural vital signs refer to measurements taken in different body positions, a polyp is a growth in mucosal tissue, and prolapsed means an organ has slipped from its normal position.

A pneumothorax is a collapsed lung caused by air entering the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung and chest wall. Normally this space holds a tiny amount of air that helps keep the lung expanded by maintaining negative pressure. When air leaks into that space, the pressure balance is disrupted, and the lung on the affected side can collapse or partially collapse, reducing its ability to inflate and exchange oxygen. This condition can occur spontaneously or after trauma, and there’s a dangerous form called a tension pneumothorax where air builds up and shifts the chest contents, needing urgent care. The other terms aren’t related to lung collapse: postural vital signs refer to measurements taken in different body positions, a polyp is a growth in mucosal tissue, and prolapsed means an organ has slipped from its normal position.