Aviation Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The correct choice relates specifically to barotrauma, which occurs as a result of rapid changes in altitude. During ascent or descent in an aircraft, the external atmospheric pressure decreases or increases quickly, leading to a discrepancy between the pressure in air-filled cavities within the body and the surrounding environment. This can result in injury to different body structures that contain air, such as the ears, sinuses, and lungs.

For example, as a plane climbs or descends, the pressure differential can cause pain or even rupture of the eardrum if the pressure isn't equalized properly, leading to barotrauma. The condition requires attention because it can cause significant discomfort and potentially serious consequences if not managed appropriately.

Other conditions linked to altitude changes have different mechanisms or causes. For instance, decompression sickness primarily results from nitrogen bubbles forming in the body due to rapid ascent after exposure to increased pressure, which is more common in diving scenarios rather than typical flight scenarios. Barometric pressure sickness is a broader term that may encompass various physiological effects due to altitude changes, but it does not specifically refer to the localized injuries caused by pressure changes that characterize barotrauma. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is related to fluid balance and is not directly linked to altitude