oxygen transport

oxygen transport,

the process by which oxygen is absorbed in the lungs by the hemoglobin in circulating deoxygenated red cells and carried to the peripheral tissues. The process is made possible because hemoglobin has the ability to combine with oxygen present at a high concentration, such as in the lungs, and to release this oxygen when the concentration is low, such as in the peripheral tissues. See also hemoglobin.

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oxygen

a chemical element, atomic number 8, atomic weight 15.999, symbol O. See Table 6. It is a colorless and odorless gas that makes up about 20% of the atmosphere. In combination with hydrogen, it forms water; by weight, 90% of water is oxygen. It is the most abundant of all the elements of nature. Large quantities of it are distributed throughout the solid matter of the earth, because the gas combines readily with many other elements. With carbon and hydrogen, oxygen forms the chemical basis of much organic material. Oxygen is essential in sustaining all kinds of life.

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oxygen analyzer

an instrument that measures the concentration of oxygen in a gas mixture.

oxygen deficiency

significant cause of losses in cultivated finfish in enclosed dams, but also in rivers and estuaries, caused by lack of natural aeration of the water or to heavy algal blooms, bushfire ash deposits and overcast conditions leading to respiration rather than photosynthesis or a high concentration of organic matter and leading to the development of a bacterial bloom; a high temperature exacerbates the development.

oxygen flux equation

a calculation that determines the rate at which oxygen is made available to tissues, based on cardiac output and arterial oxygen content.

oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve

a graphic explanation of the release and acquisition of oxygen from and to the hemoglobin in the blood in varying circumstances of oxygen partial pressure in the environment.

oxygen regulator

see reducing valve.

oxygen saturation

the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the blood expressed as a percentage of the maximal binding capacity.

oxygen saturation curve

graphical representation describing the relationship (usually curvilinear) between fraction of oxygen-binding sites (of a protein) that have oxygen bound to them and the partial pressure (concentration) of free oxygen.

oxygen tank

the heavy metal cylinder in which medical gases are compressed at high pressure. Called also oxygen cylinder.

oxygen tension

see tension (2).

oxygen tent

an enclosed space or plastic canopy used for oxygen therapy, humidity therapy or aerosol therapy.

oxygen therapy

supplemental oxygen administered for the purpose of relieving hypoxemia and preventing damage to the tissue cells as a result of oxygen lack (hypoxia). Companion animals are usually placed in a special cage with oxygen piped to it. A mask is used for short-term administration. Large animals can be supplied by a nasal tube taped in place to deliver oxygen into the pharynx.

oxygen toxicity

tissue damage may occur with exposure to high concentrations of oxygen for long periods. See also retrolental fibroplasia.

oxygen-transfer chain

a functional chain describing the transfer of oxygen from the external environment to the metabolizing tissue; includes uptake in the respiratory system, binding to hemoglobin, transport through the circulatory system, diffusion and dissociation in tissues and utilization in mitochondria, i.e. oxidatable substrates and enzymes.

oxygen transport

process of transfer of oxygen around the body either attached to hemoglobin or myoglobin.