Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Hypoxia01:23

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation01:29

Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation

In a cardiovascular examination, inspection and palpation are crucial for identifying abnormalities.
Abnormal findings observed during an inspection
Pigmentation01:19

Pigmentation

The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Hemoglobin01:24

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a globular protein made up of four subunits. Two of these subunits are alpha chains, and the other two are beta chains. Each subunit contains a molecule of heme, which has an iron atom and can bind to oxygen. When an oxygen molecule binds to one heme group, it changes the shape of hemoglobin, making it easier for the other heme groups to bind oxygen as well.
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles01:30

Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles

A thorough assessment of respiratory health is paramount in clinical settings to identify and manage respiratory distress and ensure adequate oxygenation. This article elaborates on the critical aspects of respiratory evaluation, including airway assessment, skin color examination, and the observation of accessory muscle use, which are integral to effectively diagnosing and managing patients with respiratory conditions.
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cyanosis.

Canadian Medical Association journal·2010
Same author

STUDIES OF LUNG VOLUME : III. TUBERCULOUS WOMEN.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
Same author

STUDIES OF LUNG VOLUME. I : RELATION BETWEEN THORAX SIZE AND LUNG VOLUME IN NORMAL ADULTS.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
Same author

STUDIES OF LUNG VOLUME : II. TUBERCULOUS MEN.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
Same author

STUDIES OF OXYGEN IN THE VENOUS BLOOD : II. STUDIES OF THE OXYGEN UNSATURATION IN THE VENOUS BLOOD OF A GROUP OF PATIENTS WITH CIRCULATORY DISTURBANCES.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
Same author

STUDIES OF OXYGEN IN THE VENOUS BLOOD : III. DETERMINATIONS ON FIVE PATIENTS WITH COMPENSATED CIRCULATORY DISTURBANCES.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
Same journal

Retraction: In vivo NCL targeting affects breast cancer aggressiveness through miRNA regulation.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Intravesical mesothelin-based CAR T cells targeting MUC16 effectively control bladder cancer in preclinical models.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Flawed translation triggers oncogenic B-T cell communication.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Correction: LCK'ed in: Inborn errors of immunity in LCK reveal how TCR signaling is calibrated.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Mechanobiology of inflammation: Pulling the strings of innate immunity.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Bile acid retention in efferocytic macrophages shapes their inflammatory status during cholangitis.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Reactive Hyperemia for the Assessment of Lower Limb Vascular Function
04:44

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Reactive Hyperemia for the Assessment of Lower Limb Vascular Function

Published on: March 22, 2024

ERYTHROSIS, OR FALSE CYANOSIS.

C Lundsgaard1

  • 1Medical Clinic of the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Patients with Vaquez' disease exhibit normal blood oxygen levels despite high hemoglobin. This study proposes the term 'erythrosis' to describe the reddish skin coloration in polycythemia, differentiating it from cyanosis.

More Related Videos

Intra-cardiac Side-Firing Light Catheter for Monitoring Cellular Metabolism using Transmural Absorbance Spectroscopy of Perfused Mammalian Hearts
08:51

Intra-cardiac Side-Firing Light Catheter for Monitoring Cellular Metabolism using Transmural Absorbance Spectroscopy of Perfused Mammalian Hearts

Published on: May 12, 2019

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo
08:53

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Published on: January 10, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Reactive Hyperemia for the Assessment of Lower Limb Vascular Function
04:44

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Reactive Hyperemia for the Assessment of Lower Limb Vascular Function

Published on: March 22, 2024

Intra-cardiac Side-Firing Light Catheter for Monitoring Cellular Metabolism using Transmural Absorbance Spectroscopy of Perfused Mammalian Hearts
08:51

Intra-cardiac Side-Firing Light Catheter for Monitoring Cellular Metabolism using Transmural Absorbance Spectroscopy of Perfused Mammalian Hearts

Published on: May 12, 2019

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo
08:53

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Published on: January 10, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Vaquez' disease, a type of polycythemia, is characterized by an overproduction of red blood cells.
  • Understanding the clinical manifestations and terminology associated with polycythemia is crucial for accurate diagnosis and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the blood gas parameters in a patient diagnosed with Vaquez' disease.
  • To differentiate the characteristic skin coloration in polycythemia from cyanosis and propose a new descriptive term.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of venous blood gas parameters, including oxygen unsaturation, total hemoglobin, and oxygen capacity.
  • Clinical observation of skin and mucous membrane coloration.

Main Results:

  • Venous blood samples revealed normal oxygen unsaturation and carbon dioxide content.
  • Abnormally high total hemoglobin and oxygen-carrying capacity were observed.
  • The patient presented with reddish, rather than bluish, skin and mucous membranes.

Conclusions:

  • Despite elevated hemoglobin levels in Vaquez' disease, oxygen transport may remain efficient with normal oxygen unsaturation.
  • The distinct reddish skin tone in polycythemia is proposed to be termed 'erythrosis'.
  • Erythrosis should be distinguished from cyanosis to improve clinical description and understanding of polycythemic conditions.