Pulmonary embolism is best defined as which of the following?

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Multiple Choice

Pulmonary embolism is best defined as which of the following?

Pulmonary embolism is defined by a clot that breaks loose from somewhere in the venous system and travels to the lungs, lodging in the pulmonary arteries and blocking blood flow to part of the lung. This obstruction disrupts perfusion ahead of ventilation in that area, producing a ventilation-perfusion mismatch and potentially hypoxemia or infarction. The other statements describe related concepts or specific causes but do not capture the general definition: dead space represents ventilation without perfusion in a region, venous stasis is a risk factor for clot formation, and fat or air emboli are a different etiology rather than the usual thrombotic event that defines a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is defined by a clot that breaks loose from somewhere in the venous system and travels to the lungs, lodging in the pulmonary arteries and blocking blood flow to part of the lung. This obstruction disrupts perfusion ahead of ventilation in that area, producing a ventilation-perfusion mismatch and potentially hypoxemia or infarction. The other statements describe related concepts or specific causes but do not capture the general definition: dead space represents ventilation without perfusion in a region, venous stasis is a risk factor for clot formation, and fat or air emboli are a different etiology rather than the usual thrombotic event that defines a pulmonary embolism.

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