**Core Concept**
Gasless abdomen, also known as "pneumoperitoneum absent" or "airless abdomen," refers to the absence of gas in the abdominal cavity on a radiograph. This condition is often indicative of a specific underlying pathology.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
A gasless abdomen is typically seen in cases of **traumatic rupture of the diaphragm**, where there is an intrathoracic injury causing herniation of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity. This leads to a shift of the abdominal contents and bowel loops, resulting in a reduced or absent gas pattern in the abdominal cavity on an X-ray. The mechanism involves the disruption of the diaphragm, allowing abdominal contents to herniate into the thorax, thereby displacing gas from the abdominal cavity.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is incorrect because a **normal abdominal X-ray** would indeed show air in the bowel loops, but it would not explain the absence of gas in the abdominal cavity.
* **Option B:** **Intestinal obstruction** may cause a shift of bowel loops, but it would typically result in an increased gas pattern in the affected area, not a gasless abdomen.
* **Option C:** **Perforated peptic ulcer** would indeed lead to free air under the diaphragm, but it would not cause a gasless abdomen.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
When interpreting abdominal X-rays, remember that a gasless abdomen is a red flag for traumatic diaphragmatic rupture, and further investigation is warranted to rule out this potentially life-threatening condition.

**Correct Answer: C. Perforated peptic ulcer is often associated with free air under the diaphragm, not a gasless abdomen.