Why does an increase in mitochondria increase arterio-venous oxygen difference?

[sunshine02]

Question above. Thanks!

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[Apoplexy__]

Sounds like a weird way of phrasing the question, but remember that mitochondria are responsible for aerobic metabolism and consume O2.

A large arterio-venous O2 difference means that a significant amount of the O2 arriving in the capillaries from the arteries gets used up, so that there's significantly less in the veins. This difference increases when tissues are more metabolically active.

So with more mitochondrial activity, more O2 is required, which pulls more O2 out of the arterial blood -- increasing the AV O2 difference.

 

[Brain Bucket]

This is probably a MCAT question from a terrible bank.