A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood. Most easily seen in the lips, fingertips, and around the mouth.
From Greek 'kyanos' (dark blue) + '-osis' (condition). The term was coined in the 19th century as doctors began to understand the relationship between blood oxygenation and skin color. The Greek root 'kyanos' also gives us 'cyan' and 'cyanide,' reflecting the blue color association.
Cyanosis is like your body's built-in warning light! You need at least 5 grams of deoxygenated hemoglobin per 100ml of blood before the blue color becomes visible - that's why people with anemia might not show cyanosis even when severely oxygen-deprived.
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