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The human body has evolved to operate in an atmosphere of 21 per cent oxygen, and even minor changes to this level can trigger physiological responses. The authors of this volume analyze the mechanisms of hypoxia and angiogenesis from a systems perspective.

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In this volume, the authors will describe the mechanisms of hypoxia and angiogenesis from a systems perspective. Hypoxia - defined as low oxygen - is quantitative by nature, and species dependent. Humans evolved to function in the Earth´s atmosphere of 21% O2. At even 1% lower atmospheric oxygen levels, the body responds with a host of mechanisms unactivated in normal oxygen levels. Oxygen levels in cells can be altered by multiple means, including changes in inspired oxygen, lack of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin from the blood, increased cellular oxygen demand and changes in the cell growth rates.

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