Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in which body cavity?

• A. Pleural space
• B. Joint capsule
• C. Peritoneal cavity
• D. Pericardial cavity

Answer: (C)

Ascites is fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavity, the abdominal space between the layers of the peritoneum that surrounds and supports the abdominal organs. Normally there’s only a small amount of lubricating fluid there; when conditions like liver disease with portal hypertension or low blood albumin raise hydrostatic pressure or lower oncotic pressure, fluid leaks into this space and causes distension. The other spaces mentioned are not where ascites occurs: the pleural space surrounds the lungs, the pericardial cavity surrounds the heart, and the joint capsule encloses synovial joints. Those areas can have their own kinds of effusions, but ascites specifically involves the peritoneal cavity.