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hypoxia vs. anoxia

hypoxia vs. anoxia: What's the difference?

Hypoxia and anoxia both refer to conditions in an organic environment. Hypoxia refers to a very low level of oxygen, while anoxia refers to a total lack of oxygen. Both are used in biology to refer to the oxygen level of an environment (like a swamp) and in pathology to refer to the oxygen level of bodily tissue. Hypo- means “low”; an- means “none”; and ox- refers to oxygen.

hypoxia

[ hahy-pok-see-uh ]
noun
  1. a very low level of oxygen, as in an organic environment: The fish have developed a tolerance to the hypoxia of the swamp.
  2. an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the body tissues: Premature newborns are routinely placed in incubators to treat or prevent hypoxia.

anoxia

[ an-ok-see-uh, uh-nok- ]
noun
  1. the absence of oxygen, as in an organic environment: the simulation of aquatic anoxia in the laboratory.
  2. the absence or near absence of oxygen in the body tissues; severe hypoxia: Metabolism came to an irreversible standstill during prolonged anoxia.