What describes a situation where the body has absorbed excess nitrogen after surfacing?

Decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends," occurs when divers surface too quickly after a dive, causing the body to rapidly reduce pressure. As a diver descends, nitrogen from the breathing gas dissolves into the body's tissues under increased pressure. If a diver ascends too quickly, the dissolved nitrogen can come out of solution and form bubbles within the tissues and bloodstream. These bubbles can lead to various symptoms depending on where they form and how they affect the body, including joint pain, dizziness, and potentially life-threatening complications.

In contrast, nitrogen narcosis results from high levels of nitrogen in the brain at deeper depths, causing effects similar to intoxication. Pneumothorax refers to the presence of air in the pleural space, which can occur due to trauma or lung overexpansion injuries. Air embolism happens when bubbles of air enter the circulatory system, which can be a complication of improper ascent but is different from the process of nitrogen release leading to decompression sickness.