BACK TO hypoxia
hypoxia vs. anoxia
hypoxia vs. anoxia: What's the difference?
Hypoxia and anoxia both refer to conditions in an organic environment. Hypoxia refers to a very low level of oxygen, while anoxia refers to a total lack of oxygen. Both are used in biology to refer to the oxygen level of an environment (like a swamp) and in pathology to refer to the oxygen level of bodily tissue. Hypo- means “low”; an- means “none”; and ox- refers to oxygen.
[ hahy-pok-see-uh ]
noun
- a very low level of oxygen, as in an organic environment: The fish have developed a tolerance to the hypoxia of the swamp.
- an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the body tissues: Premature newborns are routinely placed in incubators to treat or prevent hypoxia.
[ an-ok-see-uh, uh-nok- ]
noun
- the absence of oxygen, as in an organic environment: the simulation of aquatic anoxia in the laboratory.
- the absence or near absence of oxygen in the body tissues; severe hypoxia: Metabolism came to an irreversible standstill during prolonged anoxia.