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Multiple Choice

In the arterial oxygen content equation, which term represents the dissolved oxygen in plasma?

Arterial oxygen content has two parts: oxygen bound to hemoglobin and oxygen dissolved in plasma. The dissolved portion depends directly on PaO2 and uses the solubility coefficient of oxygen in plasma, which is about 0.003 mL O2 per dL of blood per mmHg. So the dissolved oxygen term is 0.003 × PaO2. For example, with PaO2 around 100 mmHg, dissolved O2 is about 0.3 mL/dL, while the majority of O2 is carried by hemoglobin (the other term). The bound-hemoglobin portion reflects 1.34 × Hb × SaO2, not the dissolved portion.

Arterial oxygen content has two parts: oxygen bound to hemoglobin and oxygen dissolved in plasma. The dissolved portion depends directly on PaO2 and uses the solubility coefficient of oxygen in plasma, which is about 0.003 mL O2 per dL of blood per mmHg. So the dissolved oxygen term is 0.003 × PaO2. For example, with PaO2 around 100 mmHg, dissolved O2 is about 0.3 mL/dL, while the majority of O2 is carried by hemoglobin (the other term). The bound-hemoglobin portion reflects 1.34 × Hb × SaO2, not the dissolved portion.