Final answer:
The brain is extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation, and a loss of consciousness typically results if the brain is deprived of oxygen for a few minutes or longer. Brain damage can occur within five minutes without oxygen, and death is likely within ten minutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brain is extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation because brain cells require a high-and-steady production of ATP, which is produced through chemical reactions that rely on oxygen. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for a length of time more than a few minutes, a loss of consciousness typically results. Brain damage is likely within five minutes without oxygen, and death is likely within ten minutes.