North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

Which term is used to describe the death of tissue?

1. Necrosis

2. Orthopnea

3. Hypoxia

4. Subcutaneous emphysema

The correct answer is: Necrosis

The term used to describe the death of tissue is necrosis. This process occurs when there is a significant injury to the tissue, often due to factors such as a lack of blood flow, infection, or toxins. Necrosis indicates that the cells in a specific area have died and cannot recover, leading to potential complications in the affected organ or tissue. Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing while lying flat, often associated with certain medical conditions like heart failure. Hypoxia is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues, which may lead to tissue damage but does not specifically denote tissue death. Subcutaneous emphysema is the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue, which can occur after trauma or certain medical procedures but does not involve tissue death itself. Thus, necrosis is the precise term that describes the irreversible death of tissue.