F8.ii · Gas Transport in the Blood

This Viva will explore your understanding of the physiology of transition at birth. What is the normal haemoglobin saturation of a newborn breathing air? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of foetal haemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve, foetal/newborn circulation, changes at birth, normal values of newborn vital signs such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation.

Candidates were expected to identify the major features on a diagram of the foetal circulation. Additional questions concerned the changes to this that occur with birth (Syllabus section P and O1), the haemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve (B1 h), the factors that impact on this and the significance of these changes. Syllabus : P, O1, B1h