Regarding shock, which statement best describes its effect on circulation?

Regarding shock, which statement best describes its effect on circulation?

• A. The peripheral circulation fails.
• B. Body temperature rises.
• C. A blood clot lodges in the brain.
• D. Nerve signals do not respond.

Answer: (A)

When shock occurs, circulation to the body's tissues is not enough to meet their needs. The body prioritizes blood flow to vital organs (heart, brain, lungs) and limits flow to the peripheral tissues. This makes the peripheral circulation fail, which you can see as cool, pale skin and weak pulses as blood is redirected toward core organs. The other statements don’t describe what’s happening with circulation in shock: body temperature isn’t reliably increasing, a brain clot is not an automatic consequence of shock, and nerve signaling isn’t the defining change in circulation during shock.

When shock occurs, circulation to the body's tissues is not enough to meet their needs. The body prioritizes blood flow to vital organs (heart, brain, lungs) and limits flow to the peripheral tissues. This makes the peripheral circulation fail, which you can see as cool, pale skin and weak pulses as blood is redirected toward core organs. The other statements don’t describe what’s happening with circulation in shock: body temperature isn’t reliably increasing, a brain clot is not an automatic consequence of shock, and nerve signaling isn’t the defining change in circulation during shock.