A condition involving reversible episodes of ischemia in the fingers and toes triggered by cold or stress.

A condition involving reversible episodes of ischemia in the fingers and toes triggered by cold or stress.

• A. Ileum
• B. Raynaud's disease
• C. Pericardium
• D. Pernicious anemia

Answer: (B)

This question tests understanding of a vasospastic disorder of the digits. The key idea is that small blood vessels in the fingers and toes temporarily narrow in response to cold or emotional stress, causing reversible ischemia. This leads to characteristic color changes: white from reduced blood flow, then blue as deoxygenated blood pools, and finally red as circulation returns. Symptoms like tingling or numbness may accompany the episodes, and the attacks are typically brief and reversible. The description fits Raynaud's phenomenon, where digital arteries spasm in response to cold or stress. The other options don’t describe this pattern: the ileum is part of the digestive tract, the pericardium surrounds the heart, and pernicious anemia is a nutrient deficiency causing anemia—none of which produce the episodic, reversible digital ischemia triggered by cold or stress.

This question tests understanding of a vasospastic disorder of the digits. The key idea is that small blood vessels in the fingers and toes temporarily narrow in response to cold or emotional stress, causing reversible ischemia. This leads to characteristic color changes: white from reduced blood flow, then blue as deoxygenated blood pools, and finally red as circulation returns. Symptoms like tingling or numbness may accompany the episodes, and the attacks are typically brief and reversible.

The description fits Raynaud's phenomenon, where digital arteries spasm in response to cold or stress. The other options don’t describe this pattern: the ileum is part of the digestive tract, the pericardium surrounds the heart, and pernicious anemia is a nutrient deficiency causing anemia—none of which produce the episodic, reversible digital ischemia triggered by cold or stress.