Joe is playing in an intramural football game when he is tackled so hard that he breaks a rib.He can actually feel a piece of the rib sticking through the skin, and he is having a difficult time breathing.Joe probably is suffering from
A) a collapsed trachea.
B) an obstruction in the bronchi.
C) a pneumothorax.
D) decreased surfactant production.
E) a bruised diaphragm.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joe's symptoms suggest that he is suffering from a pneumothorax, which is a condition where air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. The broken rib may have punctured the lung, leading to the symptoms of difficulty breathing and a piece of rib sticking out of the skin. A collapsed trachea, obstruction in the bronchi, decreased surfactant production, and a bruised diaphragm would not typically cause these symptoms.

Joe Is Playing in an Intramural Football Game When He