Cyanosis overview

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Cyanosis is a bluish coloration of the skin due to the presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin in blood vessels near the skin surface. It occurs when the oxygen saturation of arterial blood falls below 85%.

The elementary principle behind cyanosis is that deoxygenated hemoglobin produces the bluish discoloration, and also produces vasoconstriction that makes it more evident. Thus oxygen deficiency - hypoxia - leads to blue discoloration of the lips and other mucus membranes.