Final answer:
Anemia is a disorder characterized by a low erythrocyte count and/or hemoglobin concentration, decreasing the blood's ability to transport oxygen. Sickle cell anemia is a common type of anemia where red blood cells become sickle-shaped, reducing oxygen perfusion into the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anemia is a disorder characterized by an abnormally low erythrocyte count and/or hemoglobin concentration, which decreases the ability of blood to transport oxygen to cells (Marieb & Hoehn, 2019). There are more than 400 types of anemia, but one common example is sickle cell anemia, where the shape of red blood cells becomes sickle-shaped, reducing oxygen perfusion into the blood (Marieb & Hoehn, 2019). This condition can cause various complications and is particularly prevalent among individuals of African descent (Marieb & Hoehn, 2019).