4/7/2014 cyanosis - definition of cyanosis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

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Cyanosis
Definition
Cyanosis is a physical sign causing bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.
Cyanosis is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis is associated with cold
temperatures, heart failure, lung diseases, and smothering. It is seen in infants at birth as a
result of heart defects, respiratory distress syndrome, or lung and breathing problems.
Description
Blood contains a red pigment (hemoglobin) in its red blood cells. Hemoglobin picks up
oxygen from the lungs, then circulates it through arteries and releases it to cells through tiny
capillaries. After giving up its oxygen, blood circulates back to the lungs through capillaries
and veins. Hemoglobin, as well as blood, is bright red when it contains oxygen, but appears
dark or "bluish" after it gives up oxygen.
The blue discoloration of cyanosis is seen most readily in the beds of the fingernails and
toenails, and on the lips and tongue. It often appears transiently as a result of slowed blood
flow through the skin due to the cold. As such, it is not a serious symptom. However, in other
cases cyanosis is a serious symptom of underlying disease.
Causes and symptoms
The blue color of the skin and mucous membranes is caused by a lack of oxygen in the
blood. Low blood oxygen may be caused by poor blood circulation, or heart or breathing
problems. It can also be caused by being in a low-oxygen environment or by carbon
monoxide poisoning. More rarely, cyanosis can be present at birth as a sign of congenital
heart disease, in which some of the blood is not pumped to the lungs where oxygen would
make the blood a bright red color. Instead, the blood goes to the rest of the body and remains
unoxygenated. Cyanosis also may be caused by poisoning from chemicals, drugs, or
contaminated food and water.
Other signs of low blood oxygen may accompany cyanosis, including feeling lightheaded or
fainting.
Treatment
Treatment of the underlying disease can restore proper color to the skin.
Key terms
Hemoglobin A colored substance (pigment) in the blood that carries oxygen to tissues
and gives blood its red color.
Respiratory distress syndrome Also known as hyaline membrane disease, this is a
condition of premature infants in which the lungs are imperfectly expanded due to a lack of a
substance on the lungs that reduces tension.
Prognosis
If the underlying condition (such as heart or lung disease) can be properly treated, the skin
will return to its normal shade.
Resources
Books
Carolson, Karen J., Stephanie A. Eisenstat, and Terra Ziporyn. The Harvard Guide to
Women's Health. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996.
Gal e Encycl opedi a of Medi ci ne. Copyri ght 2008 The Gal e Group, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis /cyanosis/ (siah-nosis) a bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes
due to excessive concentration of reduced hemoglobin in the blood.cyanotic
central cyanosis that due to arterial unsaturation, the aortic blood carrying reduced
hemoglobin.
enterogenous cyanosis a syndrome due to absorption of nitrites and sulfides from the
intestine, marked primarily by methemoglobinemia and/or sulfhemoglobinemia with cyanosis,
as well as severe enteritis, constipation or diarrhea, headache, dyspnea, dizziness, syncope,
and anemia.
peripheral cyanosis that due to an excessive amount of reduced hemoglobin in the venous
blood as a result of extensive oxygen extraction at the capillary level.
pulmonary cyanosis central cyanosis due to poor oxygenation of the blood in the lungs.
cyanosis retinae cyanosis of the retina, observable in certain congenital cardiac defects.
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Usage samples from TheFreeLibrary.com
Clinical symptoms, such as apnea, syncope,
cyanosis, and deterioration of general condition,
were also less frequent in the vaccinated group
(Table 2).
Virulence of pertactin-negative bordetella
pertussis isolates from ... by Bodilis, Helene;
Guiso, Nicole / Emerging Infectious Diseases
Marked cyanosis of the lips and the nail beds
was noted.
A 14-year-old boy with chronic cyanosis, mild
anemia, and limited ... by Zur, Berndt; Mayer-
Hubner, Bernd; Ludwig, Michael; Stoffel-
Wagner, Birgit / Clinical Chemistry
He was extremely cold and had cyanosis round
his lips, meaning he had poor oxygen levels in his
blood.
KAYAKER'S LIFE SAVED; Girlfriend alerts
sea rescue crews as man found ... by Evening
Gazette (Middlesbrough, England)
More results
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4/7/2014 cyanosis - definition of cyanosis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/cyanosis 2/4
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cyanosis retinae cyanosis of the retina, observable in certain congenital cardiac defects.
shunt cyanosis central cyanosis due to the mixing of unoxygenated blood with arterial blood
in the heart or great vessels.
Dorl and's Medi cal Di cti onary for Heal th Consumers. 2007 by Saunders, an i mpri nt of El sevi er, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis (s-nss)
n.
A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from inadequate
oxygenation of the blood.
cyanotic (-ntk) adj.
The Ameri can Heri tage Medi cal Di cti onary Copyri ght 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mi ffl i n Company. Publ i shed by
Houghton Mi ffl i n Company. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis
[snsis]
Etymology: Gk, kyanos, blue, osis, condition
bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by an excess of
deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood or a structural defect in the hemoglobin molecule,
such as in methemoglobin. cyanotic, adj.
Mosby's Medi cal Di cti onary, 8th edi ti on. 2009, El sevi er.
C/C/E
An abbreviationCyanosis, Clubbing, Edemaused in physical examination of the
extremities, which is a crude indicator of adequate oxygenation of blood
Segen's Medi cal Di cti onary. 2012 Farl ex, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis [siah-nosis]
a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to excessive concentration of
reduced hemoglobin in the blood. adj., adj cyanotic.
central cyanosis that due to arterial unsaturation, the aortic blood carrying reduced
hemoglobin.
enterogenous cyanosis a syndrome due to absorption of nitrites and sulfides from the
intestine, principally marked by methemoglobinemia and/or sulfhemoglobinemia associated
with cyanosis, and accompanied by severe enteritis, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea,
headache, dyspnea, dizziness, syncope, anemia, and, occasionally, digital clubbing and
indicanuria.
peripheral cyanosis that due to an excessive amount of reduced hemoglobin in the venous
blood as a result of extensive oxygen extraction at the capillary level.
Mi l l er-Keane Encycl opedi a and Di cti onary of Medi ci ne, Nursi ng, and Al l i ed Heal th, Seventh Edi ti on. 2003 by
Saunders, an i mpri nt of El sevi er, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis (snsis),
n a characteristic bluish tinge or color of the skin and mucous membranes associated
with reduction in hemoglobin brought about by inadequate respiratory change (5 gm/100
ml are necessary for color to be perceptible).
Mosby's Dental Di cti onary, 2nd edi ti on. 2008 El sevi er, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved.
cyanosis
a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to excessive concentration
of reduced hemoglobin in the blood. Used wrongly by clinicians describing skin lesions in
pigs where there is severe congestion of cutaneous vessels and some leakage of blood
into perivascular tissues.
central cyanosis
that due to arterial unsaturation, the aortic blood carrying reduced hemoglobin.
enterogenous cyanosis
a syndrome due to absorption of nitrites and sulfides from the intestine, principally
marked by methemoglobinemia and/or sulfhemoglobinemia associated with cyanosis.
peripheral cyanosis
that due to an excessive amount of reduced hemoglobin in the venous blood as a result
of extensive oxygen extraction at the capillary level.
Saunders Comprehensi ve Veteri nary Di cti onary, 3 ed. 2007 El sevi er, Inc. Al l ri ghts reserved
cyanosis
Physical examination A bluish discoloration of skin and mucosae due to excessive
concentration of reduced Hb in the blood. See Hypoxia.
McGraw-Hi l l Conci se Di cti onary of Modern Medi ci ne. 2002 by The McGraw-Hi l l Compani es, Inc.
4/7/2014 cyanosis - definition of cyanosis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/cyanosis 3/4
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cyanosis (s'-n'sis),
A dark bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane due to deficient
oxygenation of the blood, evident when reduced hemoglobin in the blood exceeds 5 g/100
mL.
[G. dark blue color, fr. kyanos, blue substance]
Farl ex Partner Medi cal Di cti onary Farl ex 2012
cyanosis (s'-n'sis)
A dark blue or purple discoloration of the skin, nail beds, lips, or mucous membranes
seen with sulfmethemoglobin concentrations of 0.5 g per 100 mL or greater,
methemoglobin concentrations of 1.5 g per 100 mL or greater, or deoxyhemoglobin
concentrations of 5.0 g per 100 mL or greater.
Medi cal Di cti onary for the Heal th Professi ons and Nursi ng Farl ex 2012
cyanosis (s'-n'sis)
A dark bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane due to deficient
oxygenation of the blood.
Medi cal Di cti onary for the Dental Professi ons Farl ex 2012
cyanosis dusky-bluish/purple skin discoloration due to deficient oxygenation of blood within
the dermal plexus of capillaries; occurs when oxyhaemoglobin levels <95% (i.e. <95 g/100 mL of
blood)
Il l ustrated Di cti onary of Podi atry and Foot Sci ence by Jean Mooney 2009 El sevi er Li mi ted. Al l ri ghts reserved.
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Clinical symptoms, such as apnea, syncope,
cyanosis, and deterioration of general condition,
were also less frequent in the vaccinated group
(Table 2).
Virulence of pertactin-negative bordetella
pertussis isolates from ... by Bodilis, Helene;
Guiso, Nicole / Emerging Infectious Diseases
Marked cyanosis of the lips and the nail beds was
noted.
A 14-year-old boy with chronic cyanosis, mild
anemia, and limited ... by Zur, Berndt; Mayer-
Hubner, Bernd; Ludwig, Michael; Stoffel-
Wagner, Birgit / Clinical Chemistry
He was extremely cold and had cyanosis round
his lips, meaning he had poor oxygen levels in his
blood.
KAYAKER'S LIFE SAVED; Girlfriend alerts sea
rescue crews as man found ... by Evening
Gazette (Middlesbrough, England)
More results

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4/7/2014 cyanosis - definition of cyanosis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/cyanosis 4/4
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