Zuurstofcapaciteit

Zuurstofcapaciteit refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that a substance or system can hold or transport. In a biological context, it is most commonly discussed in relation to blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is primarily determined by the amount of hemoglobin present in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein that binds to oxygen molecules, and each hemoglobin molecule can carry up to four oxygen molecules. Therefore, a higher concentration of hemoglobin leads to a greater oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Conditions like anemia, which involve a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin, directly reduce the blood's oxygen capacity. Conversely, conditions like polycythemia, where there is an excess of red blood cells, can increase it. The body's ability to deliver oxygen to tissues is critically dependent on this capacity. Factors such as altitude, where oxygen availability is lower, can also influence physiological adaptations related to oxygen capacity over time. Beyond blood, the term can also be applied in chemistry to describe the capacity of materials to absorb or react with oxygen.