Final answer:
The term for inadequate oxygen delivery to body tissues is hypoxia. Anemia and diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia can decrease the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, contributing to hypoxia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general term for inadequate oxygen delivery to body tissues, regardless of the cause, is hypoxia. It indicates a state in which the oxygen supply is insufficient for the needs of the tissues. Conditions like anemia affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen, thereby causing or contributing to hypoxia. Anemia can be due to various factors, such as blood loss, destruction of red blood cells, or a lack of red blood cell production.
Diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia also lead to a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, ultimately resulting in hypoxia. It is essential to differentiate hypoxia from other conditions that may seem similar, such as anoxia, which is the complete absence of oxygen, or ischemia, which refers to reduced blood flow to a particular area, often leading to hypoxia.