Page 23, O2 Uptake, Exercise & Cor. Circ., Dr. D. Penney
Coronary Circulation (continued..):
Oxygen utilization, or that oxygen actually used by the tissue, is a function of the blood flow rate and the A-V O2 difference. The latter reflects that oxygen removed from the blood as it traverses the semipermeable membrane between the arterial and venous vessels. The oxygen content of arterial blood is constant at 19-20 ml/dl, since no oxygen is added or removed as blood is transported from the lungs to the tissue.
In contrast, venous oxygen content varies from organ to organ, tissue to tissue, dependent on the particular aerobic needs and blood flow rate. The difference in oxygen content between arterial blood entering an organ and venous blood leaving it is the A-V O2 difference. As can be seen, A-V oxygen difference varies widely as the result of differing venous oxygen content.
NEXT PAGE
PREVIOUS PAGE
BACK TO INDEX