Medical Biomathematics and Biometrics Commons^™

Mathematical Model Of Placental Oxygen And Carbon Dioxide Exchange, Ester P. Hill

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This model of placental CO₂ and O₂ exchange calculates the time course of changes in P_^CO2, [HCO₃^-], and [H⁺] in each of four "compartments" of placental exchange vessels: maternal erythrocytes, maternal plasma, fetal plasma and fetal erythrocytes. The changes in hemoglobin-bound CO₂ (carbamate) and oxyhemoglobin contents within the erythrocytes are also calculated, permitting consideration of the Haldane and Bohr effects. Equations were written to represent one-dimensional steady state CO₂ and O₂ diffusion between concurrent maternal and fetal capillaries and the subsequent hydration, carbamino and oxyhemoglobin reactions. The equations …