Final answer:
Arterial hypoxemia is defined as having low levels of oxygen in the systemic arterial blood, which is critical for tissue oxygenation and can cause severe damage or death to neurons and tissues if not addressed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term arterial hypoxemia refers to a condition characterized by low levels of oxygen in the systemic arterial blood, which can lead to insufficient oxygenation of tissues, a condition known as hypoxia. Oxygen levels in the blood are measured using either a pulse oximeter, which provides percent saturation readings normally ranging from 95-100 percent, or by measuring the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in arterial blood through an arterial stick, typically in units of millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It is crucial to maintain adequate oxygen levels as neurons and other bodily tissues are highly sensitive to oxygen deficits and may suffer damage or death if oxygen supplies are not quickly restored.