What is the primary characteristic of hypemic hypoxia?

The primary characteristic of hypemic hypoxia is a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capability of red blood cells. This condition occurs when the blood's ability to transport oxygen to tissues is diminished, primarily due to factors affecting the hemoglobin within the red blood cells. An example of such a factor is carbon monoxide poisoning, where carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with much greater affinity than oxygen, reducing the availability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen.

Understanding hypemic hypoxia is crucial for pilots, as it highlights the importance of monitoring the health of the blood and ensuring that the body has sufficient hemoglobin levels to effectively transport oxygen, particularly in high altitude or low-oxygen environments, where the demand for adequate oxygen supply increases. The other options describe different mechanisms of oxygen deprivation in tissues but do not specifically pertain to hypemic hypoxia.