According to tissue modeling theory, when a tissue compartment has gained all the nitrogen possible it can gain, it is said to be ______.

The term "saturated" is used in the context of tissue modeling theory to describe a tissue compartment that has absorbed the maximum amount of nitrogen it can hold under a given pressure and exposure time. In diving, as a diver descends and experiences increased pressure, nitrogen from breathing gases is absorbed into body tissues. Each type of tissue has a different rate of nitrogen absorption based on its specific characteristics, such as blood flow and metabolic activity.

When a tissue compartment is referred to as "saturated," it indicates that it has reached a point where no further nitrogen can be absorbed. This concept is crucial in decompression theory since it helps guide the safe ascent and off-gassing process after a dive. If a diver ascends too quickly without allowing the nitrogen to safely off-gas from saturated tissues, it can lead to decompression sickness.

The other terms do not appropriately describe the condition of a tissue compartment at maximum nitrogen absorption. "Full" might imply a physical limit but lacks the specificity of saturation; "in decompression" refers to the process of off-gassing, not the state of nitrogen absorption; and "one complete half-life" pertains to the rate at which nitrogen is eliminated from the body, not the maximum absorption capacity of a tissue compartment