This presentation describes various aspects of the regulation of tissue oxygenation, including the roles of the circulatory system, respiratory system, and blood, the carrier of oxygen within these components of the cardiorespiratory system. The respiratory system takes oxygen from the atmosphere and transports it by diffusion from the air in the alveoli to the blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries. The cardiovascular system then moves the oxygenated blood from the heart to the microcirculation of the various organs by convection, where oxygen is released from hemoglobin in the red blood cells and moves to the parenchymal cells of each tissue by diffusion. Oxygen that has diffused into cells is then utilized in the mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of all cells. The mitochondria are able to produce ATP until the oxygen tension or PO2 on the cell surface falls to a critical level of about 4–5 mm Hg. Thus, in order to meet the energetic needs of cells, it is important to maintain a continuous supply of oxygen to the mitochondria at or above the critical PO2 . In order to accomplish this desired outcome, the cardiorespiratory system, including the blood, must be capable of regulation to ensure survival of all tissues under a wide range of circumstances. The purpose of this presentation is to provide basic information about the operation and regulation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the properties of the blood and parenchymal cells, so that a fundamental understanding of the regulation of tissue oxygenation is achieved.

This book represents an updated review of the physiology of the carotid body chemoreceptors. It contains results in the topics at the frontiers of future developments in O2-sensing in chemoreceptor cells. Additionally, this volume provides data from studies carried out in other O2-sensing tissues including pulmonary vasculature and erythropoietin producing cells. It is a prime source of information and a guideline for arterial chemoreception researchers.

The book describes how changes in respiration can affect the heart and circulation, with particular reference to the control of the two syst ems by small organs, known as chemoreceptors, which are situated in th e neck and chest. These are stimulated when the body is partly deprive d of an oxygen supply. Apart from a detailed description of the mechan isms by which the respiratory and circulatory systems are integrated t he book also contains chapters which would appeal to those interested in the historical, morphological, medico-legal and clinical aspects of the subject.

The book describes how changes in respiration can affect the heart and circulation, with particular reference to the control of the two systems by small organs, known as chemoreceptors, which are situated in the neck and chest.

Easily understood, up-to-date and clinically relevant, this book provides junior anaesthetists with an essential physiology resource.

The ability of cells to sense and respond to changes in oxygenation underlies a multitude of developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. This volume provides a comprehensive compendium of experimental approaches to the study of oxygen sensing in 48 chapters that are written by leaders in their fields.