Which statement defines hypoxia?

• A. Pathological condition in which the body or a region is deprived of adequate oxygen.
• B. Excess oxygen in the blood.
• C. Normal tissue oxygenation.
• D. High altitude adaptation.

Answer: (A)

Hypoxia means tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen to meet their needs. This is a condition where the body or a region is deprived of adequate oxygen, which is exactly what the statement conveys about oxygen delivery to tissues. It’s not about having too much oxygen in the blood—that would be hyperoxia. It isn’t about normal tissue oxygenation, which would mean sufficient oxygen. And high altitude adaptation describes how the body adjusts to chronic low oxygen, not the definition of hypoxia itself.