11.3 Gas Exchanges in the Body Flashcards
What is respiration?
the exchange of gases in the lungs (external respiration) and the exchange of gases in the tissues (internal respiration
Where is most of the O2 carried in the blood?
attached to the iron-containing heme portion of the protein hemoglobin (Hb) found in red blood cells
What is hemoglobin?
iron-containing respiratory pigment occurring in red blood cells
What is external respiration?
the exchange of gases between air in the alveoli and blood in the pulmonary capillaries
What is partial pressure and what are its symbols?
the amount of pressure each gas exerts
PO2 and PCO2
Where is PCO2 higher?
blood in the pulmonary capillaries has a higher PCO2 than atmospheric air does therefore CO2 diffuses out of the plasma into the lungs
What are bicarbonate ions?
the form in which most of the CO2 is carried in the plasma
What is carbonic anhydrase?
an enzyme present in red blood cells that speeds the breakdown of carbonic acid (H2CO3) as free CO2 begins to diffuse out of the plasma during external respiration
What is the external respiration reaction equation?
CA
H+ + HCO3- —–> H2CO3 —–> H2O + CO2
hydrogen ion + bicarbonate ion —–> carbonic acid —–> [with carbonic anhydrase] water + carbon dioxide
What happens when you hyperventilate?
- remove more CO2 and pushing the external respiration reaction even further to the right
- blood will have fewer H+
- RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS (high blood pH) results
What are symptoms of hyperventilation? What occurs after hyperventilation?
- breathing at a high rate
- breathing will be inhibited
- dizzy and disoriented
What happens when you hypoventilate?
holding your breath
- drives the external respiration reaction to the left
- H+ builds up in the blood
- RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS (low blood pH) occurs
What does increased H+ and CO2 levels do?
stimulates your respiratory centre, and your breathing rate will most likely increase
if not, you might be confused, sleepy or comatose
Describe the pressure pattern for O2 during external respiration.
REVERSE OF THAT OF CO2
- blood returning from the systemic capillaries has a lower PO2 than alveolar air does therefore in the lungs, O2 diffuses into plasma and then into red blood cells
What is oxyhemoglobin?
HbO2
compound formed when oxygen combines with hemoglobin
How is oxyhemoglobin formed during external respiration?
since hemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen at lower temperatures and higher pH, it takes up oxygen and becomes oxyhemoglobin (HbO2)
Hb + O2 —-> HbO2