What does the term "hypoxemia" refer to?

Hypoxemia specifically refers to abnormally low levels of oxygen in the arterial blood. This condition is clinically significant because it indicates that the body's tissues may not be receiving adequate oxygen, which is critical for cellular metabolism and overall organ function. Evaluating arterial blood gas levels often helps determine whether a patient is experiencing hypoxemia, which can have various causes including respiratory disorders, high altitude, or issues affecting oxygen transport in the blood.

The other choices address different scenarios. High arterial oxygen tension indicates an excess of oxygen in the blood, which does not align with the definition of hypoxemia. Normal arterial oxygen tension would also contradict the meaning of hypoxemia, as it suggests that oxygen levels are sufficient. Increased carbon dioxide levels are related to hypercapnia and do not directly describe hypoxemia, which is specifically concerned with oxygen levels. Thus, the identifying characteristic of hypoxemia is its association with low arterial oxygen tension.