Which term describes low oxygen saturation in the body?

The term that accurately describes low oxygen saturation in the body is hypoxia. Hypoxia refers specifically to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, which can lead to various physiological issues if it persists. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as high altitudes, respiratory diseases, or insufficient oxygen in the environment.

Understanding this term is important, as hypoxia can have serious consequences for cellular function and overall health. It is distinct from other related terms: for instance, ischemia refers to insufficient blood supply to an organ or tissue, which can also result in low oxygen levels, but it is more about blood flow rather than the oxygen in the blood itself. Similarly, an infraction typically refers to the tissue death resulting from a lack of blood supply and is often used in the context of heart attacks or strokes, while "inferior" is an anatomical term that generally refers to a position towards the feet or below another structure, and is not relevant to the concept of oxygen saturation.