Cyanosis – Mnemonic

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Here is a quick mnemonic “BLUISH COLOR“ to remember about Cyanosis 

This can be valuable for patients as well as medical doctors, nurses & students doing their clinical rounds. You can also find it very useful for med exams like USMLE, NExT Medical Step 1&2, MBBS, NEET PG, INI-CET, FMGE,MCAT & NCLEX exams

Cyanosis : How To Remember Easily ?

  • B – Bluish color: Cyanosis refers to a bluish color of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from an increased quantity of reduced hemoglobin.
  • L – Lips, nail beds, ears, and malar eminences: Cyanosis is usually most marked in the lips, nail beds, ears, and malar eminences.
  • U – Usually detected by family member: Cyanosis, especially if developed recently, is more commonly detected by a family member than the patient.
  • I – In the small blood vessels: Cyanosis occurs in the small blood vessels of affected tissues.
  • S – Skin thickness and capillaries state: The degree of cyanosis is modified by the color of the cutaneous pigment, the thickness of the skin, and the state of the cutaneous capillaries.
  • H – Helped by examining oral cavity and conjunctivae: In some cases, particularly in dark-skinned individuals, examination of the mucous membranes in the oral cavity and conjunctivae is more helpful in detecting cyanosis.
  • C – Central and Peripheral cyanosis: Cyanosis may be subdivided into central and peripheral types.
  • O – O2 extraction and vasoconstriction: Peripheral cyanosis is due to a slowing of blood flow and abnormally great extraction of O2 from normally saturated arterial blood, caused by vasoconstriction and diminished peripheral blood flow.
  • L – Local passive congestion: Local passive congestion may cause cyanosis by increasing the total quantity of reduced hemoglobin in the vessels in a given area.
  • O – Oximetric studies: The accurate clinical detection of the presence and degree of cyanosis is difficult, as proved by oximetric studies.
  • R – Relative and absolute quantity: It’s the absolute, rather than the relative, quantity of reduced hemoglobin that is important in producing cyanosis.

Mnemonic :  BLUISH COLOR

Dr. Arin Nandi

Passionate About Medical Science & Helping Future Doctors Achieve Top Ranks In Medical Exams. He is professionally a dentist as well as a public health expert from JIPMER working in govt.health department
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