What is the defining characteristic of stagnant hypoxia?

What is the defining characteristic of stagnant hypoxia?

• A. Insufficient oxygen at high altitudes
• B. The body’s cells are unable to absorb oxygen
• C. Reduction in blood flow to tissues
• D. Oxygen deficiency in the lungs

Answer: (C)

Stagnant hypoxia is characterized by a reduction in blood flow to tissues, which impairs the delivery of oxygen to cells throughout the body. This condition can occur even if there is adequate oxygen in the blood; if blood flow is compromised, tissues do not receive an adequate supply of oxygen, leading to hypoxia. In this context, while insufficient oxygen at high altitudes and oxygen deficiency in the lungs relate to the availability of oxygen, they do not specifically pinpoint stagnant hypoxia, which is focused on the flow of blood rather than the oxygen content itself. The body's cells being unable to absorb oxygen is more closely associated with an issue at the cellular level, rather than the circulatory issue that defines stagnant hypoxia. The key aspect of stagnant hypoxia is indeed the impaired circulation, which is what makes the correct choice the defining characteristic.

Stagnant hypoxia is characterized by a reduction in blood flow to tissues, which impairs the delivery of oxygen to cells throughout the body. This condition can occur even if there is adequate oxygen in the blood; if blood flow is compromised, tissues do not receive an adequate supply of oxygen, leading to hypoxia.

In this context, while insufficient oxygen at high altitudes and oxygen deficiency in the lungs relate to the availability of oxygen, they do not specifically pinpoint stagnant hypoxia, which is focused on the flow of blood rather than the oxygen content itself. The body's cells being unable to absorb oxygen is more closely associated with an issue at the cellular level, rather than the circulatory issue that defines stagnant hypoxia. The key aspect of stagnant hypoxia is indeed the impaired circulation, which is what makes the correct choice the defining characteristic.