Abstract
The aim of this review is to furnish both a synthesis of principles and an analysis of experimental observations reported in the international literature and concerned with the problem of oxygen transport in man living at a high altitude. Attention is focused either on some relevant biochemical parameters changing the oxygen affinity for the hemoglobin (allosteric effectors), cooperation among the oxygen binding sites), or on haematocrit changes (polycythemia). The range of activity concerning such mechanisms is also examined. The experimental investigations carried out on alpinists are compared with the results obtained on the indigenous populations living at a high altitude. The analysis of all these data indicate that the mechanisms worked up by the organism contribute to maintain the partial pressure of oxygen into mitochondria (~ 1 mmHg) independent of the partial alveolar pressure.
| Translated title of the contribution | Oxygen transport in man at high altitude |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 145-153 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Medicina dello Sport |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1979 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation