Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

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What condition is characterized by decreased oxygen levels in the blood?

Hypoxia
Hypercapnia
Hypoxemia
Respiratory acidosis

The correct answer is: Hypoxemia

The condition characterized by decreased oxygen levels in the blood is hypoxemia. Hypoxemia specifically refers to low levels of oxygen in the arterial blood, which can result from various issues, such as respiratory diseases, high altitudes, or certain heart conditions. This condition is critical to recognize, as adequate oxygenation is essential for the proper functioning of organs and tissues. While hypoxia and hypercapnia are related terms, they refer to different concepts. Hypoxia refers to reduced oxygen availability in tissues rather than just the blood, and hypercapnia refers to elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is not directly about oxygen levels. Respiratory acidosis, on the other hand, is a condition that can occur as a result of decreased alveolar ventilation leading to an accumulation of carbon dioxide, which may be secondary to issues that also cause hypoxemia, but it does not specifically denote decreased oxygen levels in the blood. Therefore, hypoxemia is the most precise term for describing a condition of decreased oxygen levels in arterial blood.