What term describes inert gas bubbles forming in tissues during rapid decompression?

• A. Decompression sickness (the bends)
• B. Barotrauma
• C. Altitude sickness
• D. Hypercapnia

Answer: (A)

Rapid decompression drives dissolved inert gases, especially nitrogen, out of solution and into gas bubbles within tissues and the bloodstream. These bubbles disrupt microcirculation and trigger the symptoms of decompression sickness, commonly called the bends. It’s the classic scenario seen with rapid ascent in diving or sudden loss of pressurization, where the body’s tissues can’t offgas quickly enough.

Inert-gas bubble formation in tissues is distinct from barotrauma, which is tissue or air-space injury caused by pressure changes (like a ruptured eardrum or lung injury). Altitude sickness stems from low ambient oxygen at high elevation, not bubble formation, and hypercapnia refers to elevated carbon dioxide in the blood due to ventilation issues. Therefore, the description best matches decompression sickness.