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

The term that accurately describes the swelling resulting from the movement of water into the interstitial space is edema. Edema occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the tissues, leading to noticeable swelling. This condition can result from various factors, including inflammation, injury, or other health conditions that disrupt normal fluid balance in the body.

Fluid retention, while it may seem related, refers more broadly to the body holding onto excess fluids, which could be due to various causes including poor kidney function or congestive heart failure. Infiltration usually describes the process of substances entering tissues or a cavity, such as when fluids infiltrate surrounding tissues, but it does not specifically refer to the swelling seen in edema. Hypertension relates to high blood pressure and does not directly connect to the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space. Therefore, edema specifically identifies the condition characterized by the swelling from fluid movement into tissue spaces, making it the correct answer.