气滞 and 气胸

So I am busy preparing for my doctors license exam, and came across this question and answer: 气滞可见。。。闷胀疼痛。

At when reading through the answer I first thought how inappropriate the diagnosis of qi stoppage was in the case of pneumothorax (as I have a very distinct memory of the chest oppression and pain involved). I usually understand qi stoppage as the functional disturbances and pain resulting from blockage of qi in the regular channels. Then suddenly my understanding
turned over . . . what if the qi here meant air? And the blockage meant the air getting stuck in the chest membrane? Then it explains the mechanism and symptoms of pneumothorax perfectly!

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