Which term refers to ballooning of arterial walls due to weakness?

Which term refers to ballooning of arterial walls due to weakness?

• A. Angina
• B. Embolism
• C. Aneurysm
• D. Thrombus

Answer: (C)

Aneurysm is the term for ballooning of arterial walls due to weakness. When a segment of an artery has a weakened wall, it can stretch outward under the pressure of blood, forming a bulge or sac. This dilation is the defining feature, distinguishing it from other vascular problems. Angina is chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, not a dilation. An embolism refers to a traveling blockage that can obstruct a vessel, and a thrombus is a blood clot that forms in place and can also obstruct flow. So the word that matches ballooning of the artery is aneurysm.

Aneurysm is the term for ballooning of arterial walls due to weakness. When a segment of an artery has a weakened wall, it can stretch outward under the pressure of blood, forming a bulge or sac. This dilation is the defining feature, distinguishing it from other vascular problems. Angina is chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, not a dilation. An embolism refers to a traveling blockage that can obstruct a vessel, and a thrombus is a blood clot that forms in place and can also obstruct flow. So the word that matches ballooning of the artery is aneurysm.