Final answer:
Anemia is defined as a decrease in the circulating red blood cell mass, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to body tissues and resulting in symptoms like weakness and fatigue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the circulating red blood cell (RBC) mass. This decrease leads to a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Anemia can result from various causes, including blood loss, faulty or decreased RBC production, or the excessive destruction of RBCs.
Anemias can be categorized into groups based on their causes, and diagnosis often involves kinetic and morphological approaches, including tests like mean corpuscle volume (MCV) and reticulocyte counts. Conditions such as sickle cell anemia, iron deficiency anemia, and vitamin deficiency anemia are examples of anemia due to faulty or decreased RBC production. Understanding these details is crucial for effective treatment and management of anemia.
Anemia is Option 2 - A condition characterized by a decrease in circulating red blood cell (RBC) mass.