Blood gas test
Blood gas test
A Blood gas test or Arterial blood gas test (pronounced: bluhd gas test) is a medical procedure used to measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as the acidity (pH) of the blood.
Etymology
The term "Blood gas test" is derived from the English words "blood" (from Old English blōd), "gas" (from Dutch gas, coined by chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont in 17th century), and "test" (from Old French test, derived from Latin testum meaning 'earthen pot').
Procedure
The procedure involves taking a blood sample from an artery, usually in the wrist. This sample is then analyzed in a laboratory. The results can provide information about how well the lungs and kidneys are functioning and how well the body is able to balance its pH level.
Related Terms
- Arterial blood: Blood that is oxygenated and flows away from the heart.
- Carbon dioxide: A waste product that is carried in the blood to the lungs where it is exhaled.
- Oxygen: A gas that is needed for most forms of life.
- pH: A measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is.
- Lungs: Organs that remove carbon dioxide from the blood and provide it with oxygen.
- Kidneys: Organs that filter waste products out of the blood.
- Acidosis: A condition characterized by excessive acid in the body, often measured by a blood gas test.
- Alkalosis: A condition characterized by excessive base (alkali) in the body, often measured by a blood gas test.
See Also
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