Blood gas tension

Blood gas tension refers to the partial pressure of gases in blood. There are several significant purposes for measuring gas tension; the most common gas tensions measured are oxygen tension (P_xO₂), the carbon dioxide tension (P_xCO₂) and carbon monoxide tension (P_xCO). The subscript x in each symbol represents the source of the gas being measured; "a" meaning arterial, "A" being alveolar, "v" being venous, "c" being capillary. Blood gas tests (such as arterial blood gas tests) measure these partial pressures.