Which organ is most likely to suffer primary blast injury due to overpressure, leading to respiratory compromise?

Which organ is most likely to suffer primary blast injury due to overpressure, leading to respiratory compromise?

• A. Lungs
• B. Liver
• C. Kidneys
• D. Heart

Answer: (A)

Gas-filled structures are most at risk from the blast overpressure because the pressure wave acts directly on air-filled tissues. The lungs, being large air-filled organs, absorb the brunt of this overpressure, making them the most likely to sustain primary blast injury that leads to respiratory compromise. The rapid compression and expansion can rupture alveoli, cause pulmonary contusion, edema, or pneumothorax, and disrupt gas exchange, all of which impair breathing. Solid organs like the liver, kidneys, or the heart lack air-filled spaces that respond as dramatically to the pressure wave, so they’re less likely to be the primary-blast target. They can still be injured, but not as the immediate mechanism responsible for respiratory failure.

Gas-filled structures are most at risk from the blast overpressure because the pressure wave acts directly on air-filled tissues. The lungs, being large air-filled organs, absorb the brunt of this overpressure, making them the most likely to sustain primary blast injury that leads to respiratory compromise. The rapid compression and expansion can rupture alveoli, cause pulmonary contusion, edema, or pneumothorax, and disrupt gas exchange, all of which impair breathing.

Solid organs like the liver, kidneys, or the heart lack air-filled spaces that respond as dramatically to the pressure wave, so they’re less likely to be the primary-blast target. They can still be injured, but not as the immediate mechanism responsible for respiratory failure.