What it means
The ending for the level of carbon dioxide (CO2). Hypercapnia is too much CO2 in the blood, from breathing that is too slow or shallow; hypocapnia is too little, from breathing too fast. Capnography is measuring the CO2 in breathed-out air.
Related terms
hypo-
A word beginning that means under, below or less than normal.
arterial blood gas
A blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.
hyper-
A word beginning that means above, over or more than normal.