During the first micron or so bolus flow considerably facilitates equilibration.
Thereafter the plasma rapidly becomes saturated. Of course in the capillary circulation
the red cells act as sinks for oxygen, so that a greater total amount of 02
is required for saturation, and in addition the gradient of 02 tension is maintained
longer. In this circumstance saturation occurs much less rapidly, and thus it is
possible that bolus flow in the plasma may increase the rate of equilibration by as
much as 100 per cent over the rate which would obtain if the motion in the plasma