The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve

Question 1

What does the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve illustrate?

Answer 1

The relationship between oxygen saturation and the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma (PaO2)

This curve is crucial for understanding how oxygen is transported in the blood.

Question 2

What is required as hemoglobin receptors fill with oxygen molecules?

Answer 2

Larger changes in PaO2 are required to produce changes in oxygen saturation

This indicates a nonlinear relationship between PaO2 and oxygen saturation.

Question 3

What is the effect of using a nonrebreathing mask for a healthy patient?

Answer 3

May increase the saturation level from 96% to 99%

Nonrebreathing masks provide high concentrations of oxygen.

Question 4

How much can oxygen saturation increase when giving oxygen by a nasal cannula at 2 L/min to a hypoxic patient?

Answer 4

From 80% to 92%

Nasal cannulas are commonly used for supplemental oxygen in hypoxic patients.

Question 5

True or False: The more hypoxic a patient becomes, the faster desaturation will occur.

Answer 5

True

This highlights the urgency of addressing hypoxia in patients.