Which term describes a spasm of an artery after arterial puncture?

• A. Arteriospasm
• B. Hematoma formation
• C. Infection
• D. Thrombus formation

Answer: (A)

When an artery is punctured, the vessel can respond with a protective tightening of its smooth muscle, causing a sudden narrowing known as an arteriospasm. This spasm is the artery’s immediate constrictive reaction to trauma from the puncture, and it can briefly reduce blood flow and make hemostasis harder to achieve. The other options describe different problems that can occur later or alongside puncture—hematoma formation is blood leakage that pools outside vessels, infection is a contaminant-driven risk, and thrombus formation is clotting inside the vessel. None of those describe the artery’s immediate constrictive response after puncture, which is what arteriospasm specifically refers to.