What disorder is caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the body?

Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the body due to a sudden decrease in pressure, usually after a rapid ascent during diving or flying. Under high pressure, nitrogen is absorbed in greater quantities into the body tissues. When the pressure decreases too quickly, the nitrogen can come out of solution and form bubbles, leading to various symptoms, which can include joint pain, dizziness, and potentially serious complications involving the nervous system and circulatory system.

This phenomenon is fundamentally linked to the principles of gas solubility under pressure, as described by Henry's Law. At greater depths or altitudes, gases such as nitrogen are dissolved in liquids (like blood) more readily due to the increased pressure. However, if an individual ascends or decompresses too rapidly, the dissolved gases cannot exit the body swiftly enough and form bubbles, resulting in DCS.

Other options refer to different conditions: barotrauma involves physical damage to body tissues due to pressure changes; altitude illness encompasses various issues arising at high altitudes due to reduced oxygen; and hypoxia is a lack of sufficient oxygen in the tissues. Each of these conditions has its own causes and physiological mechanisms, separate from the gas-related bubble formation seen in DCS.