PhysiologyTier 1Medical Sciences concept

Oxygen delivery determinants - content vs saturation (anaemia, CO poisoning, methaemoglobinaemia)

Core concept

  • DO2 = CO x CaO2 x 10 - normal ~1000 mL/min; VO2 ~250 mL/min -> extraction ratio ~25%
  • CaO2 = (1.34 x Hb x SaO2) + (0.003 x PaO2)
    • Hb and SaO2 carry essentially all of it; dissolved O2 is ~1.5% (0.3 mL/dL)
    • A PaO2 of 100 contributes 0.3 mL/dL; 1 g/dL of Hb contributes ~1.3 mL/dL - four times as much
  • -> the three ways to be hypoxic with a normal PaO2
    • Anaemic hypoxia - dec Hb (commonest)
    • Carbon monoxide - Hb present but occupied
    • Methaemoglobinaemia - Hb present but Fe3+ cannot bind O2
    • And a fourth: histotoxic (cyanide) - O2 delivered but unusable
  • Stagnant (circulatory) hypoxia - dec CO; the DO2 term nobody checks

3 more sections, plus exam facts

Premium unlocks every note across every specialty, and the full exam fact library behind it.

Get premium access