What term describes swelling caused by body tissues retaining an excessive amount of fluid?

• A. Entropion
• B. Evisceration
• C. Edema
• D. Enucleation

Answer: (C)

Swelling caused by the body’s tissues retaining an excessive amount of fluid is edema. Edema occurs when fluid accumulates in the interstitial spaces due to factors like increased capillary pressure, reduced blood protein levels, lymphatic obstruction, or inflammation. This general term specifically describes the puffiness and swelling you see in tissues from fluid retention. The other terms are unrelated to fluid buildup: entropion is the inward turning of the eyelid, evisceration is removing the contents of the eye while keeping the outer shell, and enucleation is removing the entire eye. Those describe eye anatomy or surgical procedures, not fluid retention, so edema is the correct term.