Cyanosis
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Cyanosis refers to the bluish coloration of the skin due to the presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin in blood vessels near the skin surface.
Types
It can occur in the fingers, including underneath the fingernails, as well as other extremities (called peripheral cyanosis), or in the lips and face (central cyanosis).Central cyanosis
Central cyanosis suggests a circulatory or ventilatory problem that leads to poorer blood oxygenation in the lungs or greater oxygen extraction due to slowing down of blood circulation in the skin's blood vessels.Acute cyanosis can be a result of asphyxiation or choking, and is one of the surest signs that respiration is being blocked.
The elementary principle behind cyanosis is that oxygenated hemoglobin is red, while deoxygenated hemoglobin is blue. Thus oxygen deficiency - hypoxia - leads to blue discoloration of the lips and other mucus membranes.
Peripheral cyanosis
Peripheral cyanosis suggests that there is poor circulation in the small vessels involved, such as when a person's hands are very cold. However, this condition can also be permanent even in normal temperatures; see acrocyanosis.See also
External links
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