Phlebitis is the inflammation of which structure?

Phlebitis is the inflammation of which structure?

• A. Blockage of an artery
• B. Infection of the heart
• C. Inflammation of a vein
• D. Inflammation of a muscle

Answer: (C)

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. Veins carry blood back to the heart, and when they become inflamed you may notice redness, warmth, and tenderness along the vein, sometimes with swelling. This definition directly matches what phlebitis is, unlike the other options which describe different structures or problems: an arterial blockage affects arteries and blood flow in the opposite direction of circulation, infection of the heart refers to cardiac tissue problems, and inflammation of a muscle refers to myositis. So the concept tested is simply identifying that phlebitis means inflammation of a vein.

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. Veins carry blood back to the heart, and when they become inflamed you may notice redness, warmth, and tenderness along the vein, sometimes with swelling. This definition directly matches what phlebitis is, unlike the other options which describe different structures or problems: an arterial blockage affects arteries and blood flow in the opposite direction of circulation, infection of the heart refers to cardiac tissue problems, and inflammation of a muscle refers to myositis. So the concept tested is simply identifying that phlebitis means inflammation of a vein.