National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Practice Exam

Pitting edema is a condition characterized by the formation of temporary indentations on the skin when pressure is applied. This type of edema occurs when fluid accumulates in the interstitial spaces and is commonly associated with conditions affecting the kidneys.

When the kidneys are not functioning optimally, they struggle to filter excess fluid and waste from the body effectively. This can lead to fluid retention, resulting in edema, particularly in the legs and feet, where gravity plays a significant role. The kidneys regulate fluid balance in the body, and any impairment can disrupt this balance, leading to pitting edema.

In contrast, while conditions involving the heart, liver, or lungs can also lead to fluid retention, they are typically associated with different types of edema. For instance, heart failure often leads to non-pitting edema because of increased pressure in the venous system, and liver disease might cause generalized swelling due to protein loss but not specifically pitting edema. Lungs are primarily involved in gas exchange and can lead to pulmonary edema, which is not the same as peripheral edema.

Thus, when identifying the organ function most closely associated with pitting edema, the kidneys are indeed the most likely cause due to their crucial role in fluid balance and regulation.