What term describes the ability of a female tick to expand their body during feeding?

The ability of a female tick to expand their body during feeding is best described by the term "distention." When ticks feed on their hosts, they consume blood, which causes their bodies to stretch significantly. This process allows them to store large amounts of blood, so they can sustain themselves for extended periods without needing to feed again.

Distention accurately captures the physical change that occurs during feeding, highlighting how ticks are adapted to their parasitic lifestyle. The other terms do not convey this specific biological process; for instance, hydrostatic pressure generally refers to the fluid pressure within confined spaces, which is not specific to the feeding mechanism of ticks. Neosomy, which refers to developmental changes in body parts, doesn’t apply to the feeding process. Retroflexion involves bending or turning back, which does not describe the feeding dynamics involved with ticks either.