Biomaterial Database

Alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference: a critical look. 1981

T A Torda

By rearranging the terms of the pulmonary shunt equation the physiological factors affecting alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference can be examined. The effect of the inspired oxygen fraction and haemoglobin concentration are illustrated. It is demonstrated that there is an important cardiac output dependent term which has considerable effect. Therefore the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference cannot be used as a reliable measure of pulmonary function. This is illustrated with data from two case histories.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D011650	Pulmonary Alveoli	Small polyhedral outpouchings along the walls of the alveolar sacs, alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles through the walls of which gas exchange between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood takes place.	Alveoli, Pulmonary,Alveolus, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Alveolus
D002196	Capillaries	The minute vessels that connect arterioles and venules.	Capillary Beds,Sinusoidal Beds,Sinusoids,Bed, Sinusoidal,Beds, Sinusoidal,Capillary,Capillary Bed,Sinusoid,Sinusoidal Bed
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001158	Arteries	The vessels carrying blood away from the heart.	Artery