What does hypoxia refer to in medical terms?

Hypoxia refers to a condition in which there is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues. This means that the body or a specific area of the body is not receiving adequate oxygen supply, which can lead to various physiological issues and can affect normal bodily functions.

The focus on low oxygen saturation in the body aligns precisely with the definition of hypoxia. This state can occur due to a variety of factors such as respiratory illnesses, high altitudes, or conditions that impair blood flow or oxygen transport.

In contrast, the other options describe different scenarios that do not accurately represent hypoxia. For example, having high levels of oxygen in the blood would be categorized as hyperoxia, while excessive carbon dioxide in the body suggests hypercapnia, a separate condition. Normal oxygen levels would indicate that no hypoxic condition exists at all. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the crucial aspect of hypoxia: a lack of adequate oxygen saturation in the body's tissues.