Question

The condition of reduced oxygen supply to tissues is called:

• A. Hypercapnia
• B. Hypoxia
• C. Asphyxia
• D. Cyanosis

Hint:

Hypoxia can be categorized as hypoxic hypoxia (low atmospheric oxygen), anaemic hypoxia (low haemoglobin), or stagnant hypoxia (poor blood flow).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Medical terminology provides specific names for the status of gas levels within the blood and tissues. Reduced oxygen availability can stem from various environmental or physiological causes.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Hypoxia: This term describes a condition where the oxygen supply is insufficient at the tissue level to maintain normal physiological functions.
2. Hypercapnia: This refers to an abnormally high level of carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) in the blood.
3. Asphyxia: A condition characterized by the severe deprivation of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide, often leading to unconsciousness or death.
4. Cyanosis: A physical sign characterized by a bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes, which occurs when blood is poorly oxygenated.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Reduced oxygen supply to tissues is specifically called Hypoxia.

Answer 2

These four terms are frequently confused with each other, but they can be told apart by looking at exactly what each word refers to, whether it is a cause, a resulting sign, or a separate abnormal gas level, and matching that against the description given.

1. Hypercapnia: The root here refers to carbon dioxide, not oxygen, and this term describes an abnormally high level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is a different problem from a shortage of oxygen at the tissues.
2. Hypoxia: The prefix means low or deficient and the root refers to oxygen, so this term directly names a state of reduced oxygen reaching the tissues, whatever the underlying cause might be, whether that is high altitude, lung disease, or blocked circulation. This matches the description in the question exactly.
3. Asphyxia: This describes a more severe, acute emergency where oxygen deprivation is combined with rising carbon dioxide, often from choking or suffocation, and can progress to unconsciousness or death, it is a broader crisis state rather than the general term for reduced tissue oxygen.
4. Cyanosis: This is a visible sign, a bluish tinge to skin and mucous membranes, that can appear as a result of poor oxygenation, but it is a physical symptom rather than the underlying condition of reduced oxygen supply itself.

Matching each word's meaning against the description of reduced tissue oxygen supply leaves only one term that fits precisely, without the added severity, cause, or symptom baggage of the other three.

So the correct answer is Hypoxia.