What term describes swelling associated with the movement of water into the interstitial space?

The term that describes swelling due to the movement of water into the interstitial space is edema. Edema occurs when there is an imbalance between the forces that regulate fluid movement in and out of the blood vessels and the interstitial tissue. This can happen due to various factors such as increased capillary permeability, increased hydrostatic pressure, or decreased osmotic pressure.

In contrast, infiltration usually refers to the seepage of fluids or substances into tissues where they are not normally found, but it does not specifically denote the swelling caused by fluid accumulation. Inflammation involves a series of biological responses to harmful stimuli, which can also result in swelling, but it is more complex and includes effects such as redness, heat, and pain, in addition to edema. Hemorrhage is associated with bleeding and the escape of blood from the vascular system, not the movement of water into interstitial spaces. Thus, edema is the most accurate term for this specific type of swelling.