OXYGEN TENSION OF TISSUES BY THE POLAROGRAPHIC METHOD. I. INTRODUCTION: OXYGEN TENSION AND BLOOD FLOW OF THE SKIN OF HUMAN EXTREMITIES

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Abstract
The platinum microelectrode has been calibrated to yield approx. absolute values (mm. Hg) of O2 tension in human skin. Measurements of O2 tension were made in excised, dead skin in solns. of known O2 tension and in the intact skin of extremities. During conspicuous cutaneous vasodilatation the O2 tension of skin approximates that of blood in large arteries, since there is an excess of O2 supply, a moderate decrease of O2 tension in the arterial blood as it cools on entering skin, and a moderate penetration of O2 directly from air. During conspicuous cutaneous vasoconstriction, induced directly or reflexly by cold, O2 tension of skin greatly diminishes. In skin of extremities having effective arterial occlusion the 02 tension is reduced. Skin having no circulation for prolonged periods of time ceases to metabolize, and its O2 tension approaches that of air. Inhalation of oxygen increased the O2 tension of skin having any circulation. The increase in O2 tension of skin having a fast circulation increased in proportion to the O2 in the inhaled mixture. That of an extremity having a slow circulation by reason of direct or reflex vasoconstriction increased many hundreds percent above initial levels when pure O2 was breathed, but the peak level was never as high as with O2 inhalation during vasodilatation. Measurements of skin O2 tension can be utilized to estimate metabolism of skin by arresting the circulation to the part and noting the rate of decrease of O2 tension. A more quantitative method for metabolism of skin results from blanching the skin at the electrode tip, for this excludes not only the circulation but also the complicated relationship between hemoglobin dissociation and oxygen tension. Judging by this method, all O2 is used in normal skin within 1.5 min.

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