cyanosis

American  

[sahy-uh-noh-sis] / ˌsaɪ əˈnoʊ sɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. blueness or lividness of the skin, as from imperfectly oxygenated blood.

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cyanosis British  

/ ˌsaɪəˈnɒtɪk, ˌsaɪəˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. pathol a bluish-purple discoloration of skin and mucous membranes usually resulting from a deficiency of oxygen in the blood

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Other Word Forms

• cyanotic adjective
• hypercyanosis noun

Etymology

Origin of cyanosis

First recorded in 1825–35; from New Latin, from Greek kyánōsis “dark-blue color”; cyan- ¹, -osis

Example Sentences

"The patient became cyanotic with blue lips, movements stopped, the muscles relaxed, deep breathing followed, cyanosis waned, and color returned to the lips as the patient was moved to a recovery room."

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2023

Some COVID-19 patients, however had the kind of very low saturations that we associate with cyanosis and respiratory distress—but they were comfortably speaking to us or texting on their phones.

From Scientific American • Apr. 3, 2020

At around 2:15 that day, employees of the plastic surgery office "discovered that Ms. Nguyen’s lips and face were blue and that cyanosis was quickly spreading to her upper extremities and torso."

From Fox News • Dec. 22, 2019

"When that system is halted, gasp as he might, a person's cells can no longer access life-giving oxygen. As death nears, the person's skin can turn blue. It's a clinical effect called cyanosis."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2015

There were efforts at vomiting, and pallor succeeded cyanosis; there were also clonic contractions of the flexors of the forearm.

From Scientific American Supplement No. 819, September 12, 1891 by Various