What serious condition occurs due to excessive pressure buildup inside a muscle?

Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that arises when excessive pressure accumulates within a muscle compartment, which is a group of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels covered by a tough membrane called fascia. This increased pressure can restrict blood flow to the affected muscles and nerves, leading to ischemia and potentially irreversible damage if not addressed promptly. The condition often occurs in scenarios such as fractures, severe bruising, or prolonged compression of a limb.

Recognizing compartment syndrome is crucial because timely intervention, typically through fasciotomy to relieve the pressure, can prevent permanent muscle and nerve injury. The other conditions in the list do not specifically relate to the problem of excessive internal pressure: myopathy involves muscle disease and dysfunction, rhabdomyolysis refers to the breakdown of muscle tissue leading to the release of muscle cell contents into the bloodstream, and muscle strain relates to injury due to overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers, rather than pressure buildup.