HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

Excessive blood flow to a tissue is known as?

1. Hypotension

2. Hypoxia

3. Hyperemia

4. Hematoma

The correct answer is: Hyperemia

Excessive blood flow to a tissue is specifically referred to as hyperemia. This condition occurs when there is an increase in blood supply to a certain area, often in response to increased metabolic demands, inflammation, or injury. Hyperemia can be a physiological response that contributes to the healing process by delivering more oxygen and nutrients while facilitating the removal of waste products from tissues. The other terms describe different conditions: hypotension refers to abnormally low blood pressure, hypoxia signifies a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, and a hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels, often resulting from trauma. Thus, hyperemia distinctly relates to an increased blood flow, differentiating it from the effects associated with the other terms.