SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

BIOLOGY, M2 2015 HSC 24

Data can be provided by a pulse oximeter pegged to a person's finger, as shown in the diagram.

  1. What is the oxygen saturation for this person?  (1 mark)

  2. Outline TWO limitations of using only the information provided in the diagram to determine the 'health' of a person.  (2 marks)

  3. Explain TWO advantages in using a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen saturation compared to using another named technology in a specific setting.  (4 marks)

Show Answers Only

a.   97%
 

b.   Answers could include:

→ Data requires context (eg. is the user exercising or resting).

→ There are many other parameters of physical health: disease status, blood levels of toxic environmental substances, presence of cancers etc…

→ There are other aspects of non-physical health (eg. mental health).

→ The pulse oximeter could read faulty i.e. if not properly calibrated, so comparing with results from another form of test such as a blood pressure monitor would give a better indication of cardiorespiratory health.
 

c.   Answers could include:

→ The pulse oximeter can give you immediate and continuous data. This makes it better than arterial blood gas determination from a blood sample that requires the sample to be analysed in a laboratory with a delayed and one-off reading.

→ The pulse oximeter is very portable being compact and battery operated.

→ The pulse oximeter is better for an ambulance where fast and continuous data delivery in an emergency setting is required.

Show Worked Solution

a.   97%
 

b.   Answers could include:

→ Data requires context (eg. is the user exercising or resting).

→ There are many other parameters of physical health: disease status, blood levels of toxic environmental substances, presence of cancers etc…

→ There are other aspects of non-physical health (eg. mental health).

→ The pulse oximeter could read faulty i.e. if not properly calibrated, so comparing with results from another form of test such as a blood pressure monitor would give a better indication of cardiorespiratory health.
 

c.   Answers could include:

→ The pulse oximeter can give you immediate and continuous data. This makes it better than arterial blood gas determination from a blood sample that requires the sample to be analysed in a laboratory with a delayed and one-off reading.

→ The pulse oximeter is very portable being compact and battery operated.

→ The pulse oximeter is better for an ambulance where fast and continuous data delivery in an emergency setting is required.