Question

Generally, PO2 in arterial blood is ________ than PO2 in venous blood.

a) Higher
b) Lower
c) Equal
d) Unpredictable

Answer 1

Generally, the PO2 in arterial blood is higher than the PO2 in venous blood because arterial blood is oxygenated in the lungs and venous blood has delivered oxygen to body tissues.

Step-by-step explanation:

The PO2, or partial pressure of oxygen, in arterial blood is generally higher than the PO2 in venous blood. This is because arterial blood has just been oxygenated in the lungs and carries a high level of oxygen to the body tissues. In contrast, venous blood has circulated through the body, oxygen has been delivered to the tissues, and therefore, it contains a lower level of oxygen when it returns to the lungs for reoxygenation.