The relative influence of hematocrit and red blood cell velocity on oxygen transport from capillaries to tissue.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Oxygen transport to parenchymal cells occurs mainly at the microvascular level and depends on convective RBC flux, which is proportional in an individual capillary to the product of capillary hematocrit and RBC velocity. This study investigates the relative influence of these two factors on tissue PO₂ .

Methods

A simple analytical model is used to quantify the respective influences of hematocrit, RBC velocity, and RBC flow on tissue oxygenation around capillaries. Predicted tissue PO₂ levels are compared with a detailed computational model.

Results

Hematocrit is shown to have a larger influence on tissue PO₂ than RBC velocity. The effect of RBC velocity increases with distance from the arterioles. Good agreement between analy

SUBMITTER: Lucker A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5404950 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature