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Exploring Oxygen Transport by Hemoglobin: A Computer Simulation for Students
Author(s) -
Christmas Kevin,
Chirillo Michael,
Silverthorn Dee U
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.553.35
Subject(s) - hemoglobin , oxygen , oxygen saturation , oxygen transport , chemistry , saturation (graph theory) , partial pressure , mathematics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , combinatorics
One of the more difficult aspects of respiratory physiology for students is understanding the cause‐effect relationships between dissolved oxygen in plasma, the P O2 of plasma, percent saturation of hemoglobin, inspired oxygen, and the amount of available hemoglobin. We use a 5‐step process to help students explore oxygen transport in the blood: (1) predict what happens when certain parameters change, (2) test the predictions with an interactive spreadsheet and record the data, (3) graph the data, (4) compare their predictions to the data, and (5) apply their understanding to solve problems they have not seen before. We created the spreadsheet by adapting previously developed equations for calculating oxygen saturation of hemoglobin across a range of partial pressures of oxygen. Students use a self‐directed activity that allows them to change different parameters. The first activity has hemoglobin concentration fixed at 15 g/dL blood and allows students to vary the P O2 of arterial blood. The spreadsheet calculates the dissolved oxygen (mL O 2 /dL blood), hemoglobin saturation (%), and total oxygen content of blood (mL O 2 /dL blood). The second activity allows students to change the hemoglobin concentration, atmospheric pressure, and partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere. The program calculates atmospheric and arterial P O2 , hemoglobin saturation (%), dissolved oxygen (mL O 2 /dL blood), and total oxygen content of blood (mL O 2 /dL blood). Using the program students discover for themselves how changing altitude and anemia affect oxygen transport in the blood. Feedback indicates that interaction with the program helps students grasp the relationships among the parameters.