Year 12 Biology Research
Year 12 Biology Research Tasks
Maintaining a Balance
Task 3
Blood Technologies for Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Measurements
It is essential in our bodies that oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are in appropriate and healthy amounts within the bloodstream as the excess or lack of the gases becomes detrimental to the being. Fortunately, current medical technologies allow us to monitor and measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the bloodstream with a simple test. The pulse oximeter and the arterial blood gas analysis machine are two technologies that give us insight into the closed circulatory system of living beings.
An excess of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream is particularly dangerous as the concentration of carbon dioxide …show more content…
The cells within our bodies all require an efficient supply of oxygen for respiration processes. This supply of oxygen is provided through the bloodstream. Oxygen is defused into the blood through the lungs and molecules of oxygen are attached to the haemoglobin, the bright red oxygenated blood is then transported to where it is required in the body. Without an abundant supply of oxygen the cells are unable to function properly and the person gains symptoms of cyanosis and visual hallucinations.
The pulse oximeter and the Arterial Blood Gas Analysis Machine allow for the concentration and saturation of both gases to be measured.
The pulse oximeter was invented in 1972, by Aoyagi and has the ability to display the oxygen saturation of the blood as a percentage. It is a simple procedure which requires placing a peg-like device on the end of a finger. The device emits a beam of light through the skin and measures the amount of light absorbed as the sensor passes through it. The more oxygen in the blood the brighter red the colour is which results in more light passing through, whereas a darker red which would indicate a lower amount of oxygen results in less light passing
Maintaining a Balance
Task 3
Blood Technologies for Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Measurements
It is essential in our bodies that oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are in appropriate and healthy amounts within the bloodstream as the excess or lack of the gases becomes detrimental to the being. Fortunately, current medical technologies allow us to monitor and measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the bloodstream with a simple test. The pulse oximeter and the arterial blood gas analysis machine are two technologies that give us insight into the closed circulatory system of living beings.
An excess of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream is particularly dangerous as the concentration of carbon dioxide …show more content…
The cells within our bodies all require an efficient supply of oxygen for respiration processes. This supply of oxygen is provided through the bloodstream. Oxygen is defused into the blood through the lungs and molecules of oxygen are attached to the haemoglobin, the bright red oxygenated blood is then transported to where it is required in the body. Without an abundant supply of oxygen the cells are unable to function properly and the person gains symptoms of cyanosis and visual hallucinations.
The pulse oximeter and the Arterial Blood Gas Analysis Machine allow for the concentration and saturation of both gases to be measured.
The pulse oximeter was invented in 1972, by Aoyagi and has the ability to display the oxygen saturation of the blood as a percentage. It is a simple procedure which requires placing a peg-like device on the end of a finger. The device emits a beam of light through the skin and measures the amount of light absorbed as the sensor passes through it. The more oxygen in the blood the brighter red the colour is which results in more light passing through, whereas a darker red which would indicate a lower amount of oxygen results in less light passing