Which term is listed as the medical name for shock?

• A. Shock
• B. Hypotension
• C. Hypopertension
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (C)

Shock is defined by inadequate tissue perfusion (hypoperfusion), not by a single blood pressure value. The term hypotension means low blood pressure and is a common finding in shock, but it’s a sign, not the formal name for the condition. The option that refers to low blood pressure reflects a related concept, but the real medical term for the state of shock is hypoperfusion, or simply shock itself. In wilderness first aid, recognizing shock involves looking for signs of poor perfusion—such as altered mental status, cool or clammy skin, rapid or weak pulse, and rapid breathing—and responding by securing the airway and breathing, controlling any bleeding, laying the person flat if possible, keeping them warm, and getting to definitive care quickly. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is unrelated to the definition of shock.