What is pneumothorax?

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Multiple Choice

What is pneumothorax?

Explanation:
Pneumothorax is air entering the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung’s outer lining (visceral pleura) and the chest wall lining (parietal pleura). That air disrupts the normal vacuum that keeps the lung expanded, so the lung can partially or fully collapse and be compressed. This distinguishes it from bleeding into the pleural space (hemothorax), which is blood in that space; fluid in the alveoli (pulmonary edema or other pathology affecting the air sacs); and air in the pericardial sac (pneumopericardium), which involves air around the heart.

Pneumothorax is air entering the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung’s outer lining (visceral pleura) and the chest wall lining (parietal pleura). That air disrupts the normal vacuum that keeps the lung expanded, so the lung can partially or fully collapse and be compressed. This distinguishes it from bleeding into the pleural space (hemothorax), which is blood in that space; fluid in the alveoli (pulmonary edema or other pathology affecting the air sacs); and air in the pericardial sac (pneumopericardium), which involves air around the heart.

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