Arterial Blood Gas
Arterial Blood Gas (pronunciation: ar-TEER-ee-al blud gas) is a medical term referring to a specific diagnostic test performed to measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as the blood's acidity or pH level. The test is typically performed on blood taken from an artery, most commonly the radial artery in the wrist.
Etymology
The term "Arterial Blood Gas" is derived from the English language. "Arterial" refers to the arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. "Blood" is the body fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. "Gas" refers to the gaseous substances, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, that are being measured in the test.
Related Terms
- Blood Gas Analysis: A group of tests performed on blood, usually arterial, to determine the pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide and the level of bicarbonate in the blood.
- Hypoxemia: A condition characterized by abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Hypercapnia: A condition characterized by an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood.
- Acidosis: A condition characterized by an excess of acid in the body fluids, often measured by arterial blood gas analysis.
- Alkalosis: A condition characterized by an excess of base (alkali) in the body fluids, often measured by arterial blood gas analysis.
See Also
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