Final answer:
The statement is true. Arterial blood has a higher PO2 than venous blood in the systemic circulation due to oxygen supply to body tissues, and the reverse is true for the pulmonary circulation where reoxygenation takes place in the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in the systemic circulation, the PO2 of arterial blood exceeds the PO2 of venous blood, while the reverse is true for the pulmonary circulation, is true. In the systemic circulation, arterial blood has a higher partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) because it has been oxygenated in the lungs and is being carried to the tissues of the body to supply them with oxygen. Venous blood has a lower PO2 in the systemic circulation because it has delivered oxygen to the tissues and collected carbon dioxide. Conversely, in the pulmonary circulation, venous blood coming from the systemic circulation has a lower PO2 and is brought to the lungs to be reoxygenated. Once the blood has been oxygenated in the lungs, it exits through the pulmonary veins with a higher PO2, which then enters the systemic circulation as arterial blood.