Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

You are unable to see or feel any of the usual veins on the arm of an obese client. Which tissue is probably causing this difficulty?

1. Connective

2. Adipose

3. Collagen

4. Elastic

The correct answer is: Adipose

The correct answer is adipose tissue. In individuals with obesity, there is often an increased amount of adipose tissue, which is the fatty tissue stored in the body. This abundance of fat can obscure the underlying structures, including veins, making them difficult to locate or palpate during a clinical examination. Adipose tissue not only physically occupies space but also adds a layer of insulation and cushioning, which can hinder visibility and access to the veins that are normally more prominent in individuals with less subcutaneous fat. In this scenario, it's the excess adipose tissue that specifically contributes to the challenge of identifying the veins, as it effectively masks them beneath its layers. The other types of tissue listed, such as connective, collagen, and elastic, play various roles in the body's structure and function but do not specifically contribute to the difficulty in visualizing veins due to their nature and distribution in relation to the vascular structures.