NREMT Paramedic Trauma Exam Prep

Answer: C - A tear in the parenchyma (the functional, gas-exchanging tissue in lungs) can cause a hemothorax, but because of the low pressure in the pulmonary vasculature, this rarely becomes a fatal condition.

Hemothoraxes are typically caused by penetrating trauma. Jugular veins may be either distended or flat depending on the severity of the hemothorax and whether the increase in thoracic pressure is distending them. Additionally, the pleural space can be expanded to be quite large, as much as 3-5 liters, plenty of space to provide fatal blood loss.