Abstract
AN understanding of the mechanisms of oxygen transport in mammals requires a knowledge of the rate of oxygen consumption (which represents the quantity of oxygen transported), the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference (which expresses the amount of oxygen delivered per unit of circulatory load), and the oxygen tension in mixed venous blood (which expresses the “activity” of oxygen in capillary blood). These factors have previously been compared in resting, unanaesthetized sheep and humans and a striking similarity of all three measurements was noted despite great species differences in blood haemoglobin concentration and oxygen affinity1.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Parer, J. T., Jones, W. D., and Metcalfe, J., Resp. Physiol., 2, 196 (1967).
Doyle, J. T., Patterson, J. L., Warren, J. V., and Detweiler, D. K., Circ. Res., 8, 4 (1960).
Bartels, H., and Harms, H., Pflügers Archiv., 268, 334 (1959).
Bartels, H., Beer, R., Fleischer, E., Hoffheinz, H. J., Krall, J., Rodewald, G., Wenner, J., and Witt, I., Pflügers. Archiv., 261, 99 (1955).
Barger, A. C., Richards, V., Metcalfe, J., and Günther, B., Amer. J. Physiol., 184, 613 (1956).
Korner, P. I., and Darien Smith, I., Austral. J. Exp. Biol. and Sci., 32, 499 (1954).
Severinghaus, J. W., J. App. Physiol., 12, 485 (1964).
Popovic, V. P., and Kent, K. M., Amer. J. Physiol., 207, 767 (1964).
Schmidt-Nielsen, K., and Larimer, J. L., Amer. J. Physiol., 195, 424 (1958).
Popovic, V., Amer. J. Physiol., 207, 1345 (1964).
Krogh, A., J. Physiol. (Lond.), 52, 409 (1919).
Schmidt-Nielsen, K., and Pennycuik, P., Amer. J. Physiol., 200, 746 (1961).
Kleiber, M., The Fire of Life (Wiley and Sons, New York, 1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PARER, J., METCALFE, J. Oxygen Transport by Blood in Relation to Body Size. Nature 215, 653–654 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215653a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/215653a0
This article is cited by
-
Cardiovascular characteristics of two resting marsupials: An insight into the cardio-respiratory allometry of marsupials
Journal of Comparative Physiology ? B (1981)
-
Adaptive cardiovascular modifications in the western chipmunks genusEutamias
Journal of Comparative Physiology ? B (1976)
-
A comparison of respiratory adaptations of a semi-fossorial and a surface-dwelling Australian rodent
Journal of Comparative Physiology ? B (1975)
-
Basal energy metabolism of mustelids
Journal of Comparative Physiology (1972)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.