What is hypoxia with regards to the respiratory system?
Lack of oxygen. The normal human pulmonary circulation responds to hypoxia by vasoconstricting. This is known as “Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction”, or “HPV” Instead of simply serving as a passive conduit between the two sides of the heart, an automatic pulmonary intravascular mechanism directs venous blood returning to the heart to better aerated areas of the lungs for optimal gas exchange.
