What condition results from a reduction in oxygen-carrying capability of red blood cells?

The condition resulting from a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capability of red blood cells is referred to as hypemic hypoxia. This condition occurs when the blood's capacity to transport oxygen becomes diminished, which can be due to several factors, such as low hemoglobin levels, blood loss, or exposure to carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen.

In hypemic hypoxia, although the lungs may be delivering adequate oxygen, the actual amount of oxygen available for transport to the tissues is compromised due to the impaired ability of the blood to carry that oxygen effectively. This is distinct from other types of hypoxia: hypoxia generally refers to low oxygen levels in the body, cerebral hypoxia specifically concerns the brain and its oxygen supply, and histotoxic hypoxia involves the inability of cells to utilize oxygen, often due to poisoning. Understanding this differentiation is key in diagnosing and treating various oxygen deprivation conditions.