Figure 6

The Fick diagram.${\dot{V}}_{\mathrm{O}2}$ plotted against PvO₂ showing the two transport equations: the Fick principle of convective O₂ transport by the circulation and the Fick law of diffusive O₂ transport from the capillary to the mitochondrion. By conservation of mass principles, the only feasible point is the solid circle, showing how ${\dot{V}}_{\mathrm{O}2\mathrm{MAX}}$ must be determined by the integrated effects of peak blood flow Q, diffusion D, and arterial [O₂] CaO₂. Modified from [16].