Ventilation Vs. Oxygenation

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To conclude the lesson on Cells to Capnography, let’s review ventilation versus oxygenation. Figure 1 illustrates the processes of ventilation and oxygenation in the alveoli of the lungs. Ventilation refers to moving air in and out of the lungs to eliminate carbon dioxide. Oxygenation, on the other hand, is the process of transferring oxygen from the alveoli into the blood. While pulse oximetry reflects oxygenation, measuring the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), it doesn’t tell us about ventilation. That’s where capnography comes in. By continuously measuring EtCO₂, it provides real-time, noninvasive insight into a patient’s ventilation, perfusion, and metabolism. In the prehospital setting, capnography is a critical tool in airway management and clinical decision-making.

Figure 1: Ventilation Vs. Oxygenation in the Alveoli of the Lungs

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Mark the lesson complete before continuing. –>You may be taken back to the From Cells to Capnography Lesson page. From there, click The Four Phases of a Capnogram Waveform on the left side menu to continue or return here and Go to Next Lesson.