The determination of the quantity of oxygen present in arterial blood is a critical assessment in respiratory physiology and clinical medicine. This assessment involves quantifying both the oxygen bound to hemoglobin and the oxygen dissolved in the plasma. The former is determined by multiplying the hemoglobin concentration by its oxygen-binding capacity (typically 1.34 mL O2/g Hb) and the oxygen saturation (SaO2), while the latter is obtained using the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) and the oxygen solubility coefficient (0.003 mL O2/dL/mmHg). Adding these two components yields the total oxygen content.
Knowing the oxygen level circulating in the arterial system is vital for evaluating respiratory function and the effectiveness of oxygen delivery to tissues. It is a key parameter in assessing patients with respiratory illnesses, guiding oxygen therapy, and understanding the impact of various physiological and pathological conditions on oxygen transport. Historically, assessing arterial oxygenation has evolved from invasive blood gas analysis to include non-invasive methods like pulse oximetry, although accurate content determination still often requires blood sampling.