MODELING OXYGEN CONCENTRATION IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE

A new approach to modeling oxygen transport in skeletal muscle is pres ented that has the potential to include the interactions of a large nu mber of capillaries. Oxygen concentration in tissue does not differ si gnificantly from that in nearby capillaries, but the concentration in a capillary can be found only through a consideration of the interacti on with other capillaries and the surrounding tissue. We therefore beg in with an analysis of the oxygen concentration in the tissue surround ing a single capillary. By matching the concentration in adjacent tiss ue regions, we determine the interaction among capillaries. From this, two universal constants emerge that permit the capillary concentratio ns to be determined rather easily, without further consideration of th e complex solution obtained for the tissue.