3.1.2: Haemoglobin Flashcards
What is haemoglobin?
Haemoglobin is a globular protein with a quaternary structure.
What is the primary role of haemoglobin and red blood cells?
To transport oxygen.
How does the loading, transport, and unloading of oxygen vary?
It varies in different conditions and for the different forms of haemoglobin.
What curve represents the loading and unloading of oxygen by haemoglobin?
Oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve.
How many oxygen molecules can haemoglobin associate with?
Four oxygen molecules.
What happens to the shape of haemoglobin as each oxygen molecule binds?
The shape of haemoglobin changes, making the binding of further oxygen molecules easier.
What is the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen and haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen?
In areas with high partial pressure of oxygen, the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen is high.
Where in the human body is there a high partial pressure of oxygen?
In the alveoli.
What effect does a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide have on haemoglobin?
It results in haemoglobin having a reduced affinity for oxygen.
What is the Bohr effect?
The phenomenon where a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide results in a reduced affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen.
What causes the reduced affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen during the Bohr effect?
A change in the shape of haemoglobin due to the formation of carbonic acid from dissolved carbon dioxide.
What happens to the oxygen dissociation from haemoglobin in respiring tissues?
Oxygen dissociates from haemoglobin more readily.
Why is the dissociation of oxygen from haemoglobin advantageous in respiring tissues?
It allows haemoglobin to deliver oxygen to the site of respiring cells for aerobic respiration.
Fill in the blank: Haemoglobin can associate with _______ oxygen molecules.
[four]
True or False: The affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen remains constant regardless of conditions.
False.
