Answer to Question #225140 in Human Anatomy and Physiology for Moe

Question

3.2 What is a shunt due to? (Answer this with respect to specific examples)

Answer 1

Shunt is defined as the persistence of hypoxemia despite 100% oxygen inhalation. The deoxygenated blood (mixed venous blood) bypasses the ventilated alveoli and mixes with oxygenated blood that has flowed through the ventilated alveoli, consequently leading to a reduction in arterial blood content. The shunt is calculated by the following equation