- Assumptions
- Equation
- See also
- References
- External links
The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the pulmonary alveoli is required to calculate both the alveolar-arterial gradient of oxygen and the amount of right-to-left cardiac shunt, which are both clinically useful quantities. However, it is not practical to take a sample of gas from the alveoli in order to directly measure the partial pressure of oxygen. The alveolar gas equation allows the calculation of the alveolar partial pressure of oxygen from data that is practically measurable. It was first characterized in 1946.[1]
Assumptions
The equation relies on the following assumptions:
- Inspired gas contains no carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Nitrogen (and any other gases except oxygen) in the inspired gas are in equilibrium with their dissolved states in the blood
- Inspired and alveolar gases obey the ideal gas law
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the alveolar gas is in equilibrium with the arterial blood i.e. that the alveolar and arterial partial pressures are equal
- The alveolar gas is saturated with water
Equation
If 
is small, or more specifically if 
then the equation can be simplified to:
where:
| Quantity | Description | Sample value |
|---|---|---|
 | The alveolar partial pressure of oxygen ( ) | 107 mmHg (14.2 kPa) |
| | The fraction of inspired gas that is oxygen (expressed as a decimal). | 0.21 |
| PATM | The prevailing atmospheric pressure | 760 mmHg (101 kPa) |
 | The saturated vapour pressure of water at body temperature and the prevailing atmospheric pressure | 47 mmHg (6.25 kPa) |
 | The arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( ) | 40 mmHg (5.33 kPa) |
| RER | The respiratory exchange ratio | 0.8 |
Sample Values given for air at sea level at 37°C.
Doubling 
will double 
.
See also
- Pulmonary gas pressures
References
1. ^{{cite journal |author=Curran-Everett D |title=A classic learning opportunity from Fenn, Rahn, and Otis (1946): the alveolar gas equation |journal=Adv Physiol Educ |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=58–62 |date=June 2006 |pmid=16709734 |doi=10.1152/advan.00076.2005 |url=http://advan.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/30/2/58?ck=nck |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130415161617/http://advan.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/30/2/58?ck=nck |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2013-04-15 }}
External links
- Free interactive model of the simplified and complete versions of the alveolar gas equation (AGE)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070418215127/http://www.surgery.ucsf.edu/eastbaytrauma/Protocols/Formulas%20pages/formulasaalvgasequation.htm Formula at ucsf.edu]
- [https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article-pdf/4/1/24/1021798/mkh008.pdf S. Cruickshank, N. Hirschauer: The alveolar gas equation in Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain, Volume 4 Number 1 2004]
- Online Alveolar Gas Equation and iPhone application by Medfixation.
- [https://www.vcalc.com/wiki/vCalc/Alveolar+gas+equation A computationally functional Alveolar Gas Equation by vCalc.]
1 : Respiratory physiology
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