A 24-Year-Old Healthy College Student Enrolls in a Study to Investigate

A 24-year-old healthy college student enrolls in a study to investigate the factors that influence blood oxygen content. The experiment is carried out at sea level, on room air with no additional oxygen. A method is developed to accurately measure the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood as it flows through the circulation. Blood is drawn from the vena cavae, alveolar capillaries, and aorta. All data are plotted, and the resulting curve is depicted in the graph below. Which of the following factors most likely explains the change in partial pressure indicated by the arrow?

A) Diffusion-limited oxygenation
B) Increased dead space ventilation
C) Mixture with deoxygenated blood
D) Perfusion-limited oxygenation
E) Shift in the hemoglobin dissociation curve

Correct Answer:

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