Which term best describes high blood pressure?

• A. Hypostasis
• B. Intermastoid Incision
• C. Ketone Bodies
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (D)

This item tests your understanding of medical terminology for blood pressure. High blood pressure is described by the term hypertension, which means persistently elevated arterial pressure. It’s diagnosed based on repeated readings that meet established thresholds, and it can be primary (no identifiable cause) or secondary to another condition. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. The other terms aren’t about blood pressure: hypostasis refers to livor mortis (blood settling after death), an intermastoid incision is a surgical cut used in some skull procedures, and ketone bodies are metabolic byproducts produced during fat breakdown in states like fasting or diabetes.