Pressing a finger into a swollen limb leaves a depression that lasts several seconds. What does this show?

1. Edema is an accumulation of excess water in the tissues, commonest in the soft tissue of the limbs. 2. A quick bedside check is to press a finger into the suspected area. 3. If the depression persists for several seconds after the finger lifts, edema is likely. 4. That persisting dent is what the word pitting describes. 5. Muscle wasting reduces limb size rather than increasing it, so it does not fit. _Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 26 "Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance", section Fluid Balance: Edema_