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[Sorry, JR, but I can't resist adding more bits to the ether]

Dave Waller was questioning Dave Story's explanation of the O2 window,
since one CO2 molecule is produced by each O2 molecule respired.  

The answer to this seeming difficulty, as I recall, is that CO2 is much
more soluble in blood that O2.  Now the amount of gas a liquid can hold is
proportional both to the solubility of the gas and the partial pressure of
gas.  That means that the partial pressure required to hold X moles of O2 
in solution in blood is greater than that required to hold the same X moles
of CO2 in the blood.  So if X moles of O2 in arterial blood are consumed per 
minute in respiration, and are replaced by X moles of CO2 in venous blood, the
combined partial pressure of CO2 and O2 in venous blood is lower than that in
arterial blood.  This is the root of the so-called "oxygen window."  

I hope this clarifies instead of confusing.

JHeimann@sc*.gt*.co*

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