Final answer:
SpO₂, or Oxyhemoglobin Saturation, is a measure of oxygen saturation in hemoglobin within the blood, typically assessed with a pulse oximeter, indicating effective oxygen transportation. Normal levels range from 95-100 percent, and values below this range can signal hypoxemia. This measure plays a critical role in monitoring patients' respiratory function and overall health.
Step-by-step explanation:
SpO₂, or Oxyhemoglobin Saturation, measures the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the blood occupied by oxygen, indicating how well oxygen is being transported to the cells of the body.
Percent saturation is typically monitored using a pulse oximeter, a device that applies to a thin part of the body, like a fingertip, and uses two wavelengths of light to determine oxygen saturation. A normal pulse oximeter reading ranges from 95-100 percent, with lower percentages indicating hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen levels. Additionally, blood oxygen levels can be measured from free oxygen in the plasma using an arterial stick, which provides a measurement of the partial pressure of oxygen, or pO2.
When the graph of oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation begins to level off around a partial pressure of 60 mm Hg, it indicates that hemoglobin is becoming fully saturated with oxygen, signifying that oxygen is plentiful and the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen is high at lower partial pressures.