Oxygen Respiratory Physiology

Abstract

It is good to distinguish between the term “ventilation” and “oxygenation.” If one notes the different units for ventilation (ml Air/min) and oxygenation (ml O₂/min), it becomes obvious that they have quite different meanings. Airflow is dependent on the difference in air pressure. Oxygenation, however, is by simple diffusion and depends on the availability of a partial pressure gradient for oxygen (PO₂). In the liquid blood medium, the PO₂ refers only to the dissolved portion of oxygen in plasma/cytosol.