Oxygen saturation

Oxygen saturation or dissolved oxygen (DO) is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen (as O2) which is dissolved in a given medium.

It can be measured with an oxygen sensor. The standard unit of oxygen saturation is percent (%).

Fish, invertebrates, plants, and aerobic bacteria all need oxygen (dissolved in water) for respiration.[1] In medicine, oxygen saturation refers to oxygenation. This means when oxygen molecules (O
2) enter the tissues of the body. Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation levels in humans are 95–100 percent. If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low and called hypoxemia.[2]

References
  1. Ecology and classification of North American freshwater invertebrates: James H. Thorp; Alan P. Covich (eds) 2010. Amsterdam; Boston: Academic Press, p32.
  2. "Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen)". Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.