Biomaterial Database

Simulation of O2 transport in skeletal muscle: diffusive exchange between arterioles and capillaries. 1994

T W Secomb, and R Hsu

Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.

Theoretical simulations of oxygen transport in skeletal muscle are used to study the role of arterioles in oxygen delivery. A three-dimensional configuration of capillaries and arterioles in a cuboidal tissue region is simulated, based on observations of hamster cheek pouch retractor muscle. Equations describing convective and diffusive oxygen transport are solved using a Green's function method. In resting muscle, predicted oxygen saturation of capillary blood increases as it flows toward arterioles, and adjacent capillaries flowing in opposite directions show very similar variations in saturation. Diffusive oxygen loss from arterioles equals about 85% of consumption. Capillaries absorb much of this oxygen (equal to approximately 45% of consumption) and deliver it at downstream locations. Thus diffusive exchange between arterioles and capillaries plays an important part in distributing oxygen throughout the tissue. At higher flow and consumption rates, the relative amounts of oxygen diffusing out of arterioles and into capillaries decrease. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that oxygen content of arteriolar blood participates in metabolic regulation of blood flow.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008955	Models, Cardiovascular	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the cardiovascular system, processes, or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers and other electronic equipment.	Cardiovascular Model,Cardiovascular Models,Model, Cardiovascular
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009211	Myoglobin	A conjugated protein which is the oxygen-transporting pigment of muscle. It is made up of one globin polypeptide chain and one heme group.
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
D010313	Partial Pressure	The pressure that would be exerted by one component of a mixture of gases if it were present alone in a container. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Partial Pressures,Pressure, Partial,Pressures, Partial
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
D003198	Computer Simulation	Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes.	Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D004058	Diffusion	The tendency of a gas or solute to pass from a point of higher pressure or concentration to a point of lower pressure or concentration and to distribute itself throughout the available space. Diffusion, especially FACILITATED DIFFUSION, is a major mechanism of BIOLOGICAL TRANSPORT.	Diffusions
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia