Inadequate perfusion, meaning not pumping or supplying the tissue adequately, is known as which condition?

• A. Ischemia
• B. Hypoxia
• C. Necrosis
• D. Anemia

Answer: (A)

Perfusion is the blood flow delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues. When that blood flow is insufficient, the tissue is not getting enough supply, which describes ischemia. Ischemia specifically means reduced or blocked blood flow to a region, causing inadequate perfusion.

Hypoxia refers to low oxygen levels in tissue and can occur even if blood flow is normal if the blood’s oxygen content is low or there’s a diffusion problem. Necrosis is the irreversible death of cells that can result from prolonged ischemia. Anemia is a deficiency of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, which lowers the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity but does not by itself indicate reduced blood flow to tissues.