What is the condition in which the walls of the abdominal aorta weaken and bulge?

Study for the AAOS Emergency Care and Transport of the Sick and Injured Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

The condition characterized by the weakening and bulging of the walls of the abdominal aorta is known as an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). An AAA occurs when a section of the aorta, which is the largest blood vessel in the body, becomes enlarged due to a weakening of its walls. This can lead to a serious risk of rupture, which can result in massive internal bleeding and can be life-threatening.

An aortic dissection, on the other hand, involves a tear in the innermost layer of the aorta, leading to separation of the layers of the aortic wall, which is a different condition from an aneurysm. The term "embolism" refers to the blockage of a blood vessel by a foreign object, such as a blood clot or fat particle, rather than a structural change in the vessel itself. While "aneurysm" can refer generally to any abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, without the specific context of being in the abdominal aorta, it does not pinpoint the particular condition being asked about in this question. Thus, the most accurate and specific answer for this scenario is indeed the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).

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