Definition

A condition where there is not enough oxygen in the blood.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with hypoxemia after reviewing her blood oxygen levels.

Conversation

I just read an article about hypoxemia and how it affects athletes.

Really? I didn't know that could happen to them.

Yeah, it can occur when there's not enough oxygen in their blood during intense exercise.

That sounds serious! I guess they need to monitor their oxygen levels carefully.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypoxemia is formed from "hypo-" (meaning under or below) and "oxemia" (from Greek "oxys" meaning sharp or acid, and "haima" meaning blood). The term refers to a condition of having insufficient oxygen in the blood.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hypo-' meaning 'under' and 'oxemia' relating to 'oxygen in the blood' — so hypoxemia means having less oxygen in the blood.

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