A blood vessel that is distended is ____________.
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A
overturned
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B
swollen
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C
twisted
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D
overlong
A distended blood vessel is swollen, abnormally expanded beyond its typical diameter due to internal pressure from fluid or blood accumulation.
A) overturned
Overturning denotes inversion, spatial reorientation unrelated to dimensional expansion.
B) swollen
Swelling precisely captures distension's mechanism: abnormal enlargement through fluid accumulation or pressure increase. Distended (dis + tendere, "to stretch apart") describes vessels stretched beyond normal caliber, exactly matching swollen's pathological expansion.
C) twisted
Twisting denotes torsion, spiral distortion rather than radial expansion. Distension specifically addresses diameter increase, not angular deformation.
D) overlong
Elongation addresses longitudinal extension, length increase rather than radial expansion. Distension operates on vessel circumference; elongation operates on vessel length, distinct dimensional axes.
Conclusion
Distension denotes abnormal radial expansion, distinct from overturning, twisting, or elongation. Swollen alone captures distension's essential character: pathological enlargement increasing vessel diameter through fluid or pressure accumulation.
Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhat is the opposite of distended, meaning abnormally narrow or constricted?
Constricted or vasoconstricted.
What are varicose veins?
Swollen, twisted veins (often in the legs) where blood has pooled due to faulty valves. They are both distended and twisted.
What is edema?
The medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
What does vasodilation mean?
The widening or dilation of blood vessels, which can cause them to become distended.
What is a common synonym for a distended vein?
A swollen or engorged vein.