alveolar gas equation calculates oxygen content of alveoli


Oxygen content of alveoli is dependent on oxygen content of inspired air and mixing of CO2CO_2 gas exchange.

PAO2=PIO2PaCO2R=150PaCO20.8P_{AO_2}=P_{IO_2}-\frac{P{aCO_2}}{R} = 150-\frac{P_{aCO_2}}{0.8}

  • PIO2P_{IO_2}: inspired air O2 content
  • PAO2P_{AO_2}: alveolar O2 content is lower because of gas exchange
  • PaO2P_{aO_2}: arterial blood content is lower because of shunt
  • SaO2S_{aO_2}: oxygen saturation is directly dependent on arterial oxygen content. Oxygen saturation is percentage of hemoglobin site that's bound with oxygen molecule.