Vital signs
Oxygen Saturation
For education. Check every result.
Anatium is a study resource, not medical advice. Nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a substitute for a clinician who has seen the patient. Check every number against a current local protocol before it touches anyone, and never act on a result you cannot reproduce yourself.
Reference range
| Adolescent & adult (12+ years) | 95 to 100 % |
| Child (1-12 years) | 95 to 100 % |
| Infant (<1 year) | 95 to 100 % |
| Neonate (<28 days) | 91 to 95 % |
About
The percentage of haemoglobin carrying oxygen. It sits on a steep curve below 90%, so a small further fall means a large drop in oxygen tension. Reads falsely high in carbon monoxide poisoning.
When it is low
Hypoxemia: <90% = respiratory failure. Causes: pneumonia, PE, COPD, asthma, heart failure
When it is high
Normal on room air. Consider supplemental O₂ if on oxygen therapy
How it is measured
Affected by perfusion, nail polish, movement, CO poisoning (falsely normal), anemia.
The rest of Anatium
Lessons, flashcards, condition modules, the anatomy lab, clinical cases and the AI study assistant are free, and need an account.
Request access