The following set of diagrams show relationship between alveolar ventilation and arterial oxygen tension. Which diagram describes the situation when pO2 changes acutely over a range of 0-160 mm Hg, while pCO2 and remains normal?
High-Yield Explanation
The arterial oxygen tension has essentially no effect on alveolar ventilation when it is higher than about 100 mm Hg, but ventilation approximately doubles when the arterial oxygen tension falls to 60 mm Hg and can increase as much as five fold at very low oxygen tensions.