Anemia (anaemia) meaning "without blood", is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin (oxygen carrying proteins in red blood cells). This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Hemoglobin has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all tissues and organs....

Anemia (anaemia) meaning "without blood", is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin (oxygen carrying proteins in red blood cells). This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Hemoglobin has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all tissues and organs.

The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis). In menstruating women, dietary iron deficiency is a common cause of deficient red blood cell production.

Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical signs, to mention a few.