Which statement correctly matches the terms hypoxic stress and hypoxemia?

• A. Hypoxic stress: low oxygen content in blood; Hypoxemia: low oxygen in a tissue.
• B. Hypoxic stress: low oxygen in a tissue; Hypoxemia: low oxygen in blood.
• C. Both terms refer to low oxygen in blood.
• D. Both terms refer to low oxygen in tissue.

Answer: (A)

Distinguish where the oxygen deficit sits—in the blood or in the tissues. In the pairing shown, hypoxic stress is described as low oxygen content in the blood, while hypoxemia is described as low oxygen in a tissue. That separation fits the prompt’s goal of linking each term to a different location of the oxygen shortfall, making it the best choice among the options.

In typical medical usage, hypoxemia refers to low oxygen in the blood and hypoxia to low oxygen in tissues, so this question tests recognizing how the terms are being paired in this particular item. The other options mix up or conflate the locations, which is why they’re less appropriate.