The condition characterized by skeletal muscle injury with necrosis and release of intracellular contents is called?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Myositis
• C. Rhabdomyolysis
• D. Fibromyalgia

Answer: (C)

Rhabdomyolysis. It involves breakdown of skeletal muscle cells with necrosis and release of intracellular contents into the bloodstream, which explains the very high creatine kinase, presence of myoglobin in urine, and risks like hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury from myoglobin precipitation in the kidneys. It commonly follows significant muscle injury or stress—crush injuries, prolonged immobilization, extreme exertion, or exposure to certain drugs or toxins. Other conditions don’t fit this pattern: pneumothorax is air in the pleural space, myositis is muscle inflammation without the same degree of muscle cell rupture and intracellular leakage, and fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome without muscle necrosis or myoglobin release.