Figure 5-16 The uptake (in milliliters per minute) resulting from the application of the constants calculated by Yasuda and colleagues^{[11] [12]} from their measurements in human volunteers. The application assumes that the alveolar concentration equals the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). Uptake is a function of MAC and solubility of the anesthetic in blood and tissues. The fivefold higher MAC for desflurane compared with isoflurane is offset by a threefold lower solubility, producing less than a twofold difference in uptake at any time. Uptake for all anesthetics initially declines rapidly as a function of the rate at which the vessel-rich tissue group equilibrates. Further decline after 5 to 10 minutes is a function of the approach to equilibration of the muscle group.