Biology A03

Question 1

Where is the haemoglobin found?

Answer 1

In red blood cells

Question 2

What is the haemoglobin responsible for?

Answer 2

Carrying oxygen around the body because oxygen does not dissolve into the circulatory system.

Question 3

What is haemoglobin?

Answer 3

It is a large protein and has a quaternary structure (made up of four polypeptide chains).

Question 4

Describe the polypeptide chain

Answer 4

Each chain has haem group which contains an iron ion (gives it its red colour).

Each haemglobin molecule can carry four oxygen molecules.

Question 5

The ability for oxygen to bind with the haemoglobin is also known as…

Answer 5

haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen.

Question 6

What does haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen depend on?

Answer 6

The partial pressure of oxygen, which is a measure of oxygen concentration.

Question 7

Describe the relationship between concentration of oxygen dissolved in cells and the partial pressure.

Answer 7

The higher the concentration of oxygen dissolved in cells, the higher the partial pressure.

As partial pressure increases, haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen increases too.

Question 8

How is oxyhaemoglobin formed?

Answer 8

Oxygen associates onto the haemoglobin where there is a high partial pressure of oxygen.

Question 9

What happens to oxyhaemoglobin?

Answer 9

It unloads the oxygen to where there is a low partial pressure of oxygen and becomes a haemoglobin again.

Question 10

What do oxygen dissociation curves show?

Answer 10

They show how saturated with oxygen haemoglobin is, which is affected by haemoglobin’s affinity.

Question 11

What is the partial pressure of carbon dioxide a measure of?

Answer 11

The concentration of Co2 in a cell.

Question 12

How is oxygen dissociation affcetd?

Answer 12

By the partial pressure of carbon dioxide.

Question 13

Explain why oxygen dissociation is affected?

Answer 13

When cells respire they produce carbon dioxide.

Question 14

Haemoglobin dissociates with oxygen easier when there is a…

Answer 14

higher partial pressure of carbon dioxide. This is how the body gets more oxygen to cells when they need it.

Question 15

What does a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide cause?

Answer 15

The dissociation curve to keep its shape but shift to the right.

Question 16

What is the bohr effect?

Answer 16

When oxygen saturation is lower at any given partial pressure of oxygen, meaning more oxygen is released.

Question 17

What is there partial pressure of oxygenlike at high altitudes?

Answer 17

Its reduced, meaning there is less oxygen available in the environment to be used in for respiration.

Question 18

What does a high altitude cause?

Answer 18

Body produces ore EPO (erythropoietin) in the kidneys and causes an increases in red blood cells.

Question 19

Why do athletes train at high altitudes?

Answer 19

When they perform at a normal altitude they will have more oxygen carrying red blood cells and therefore easier transport of oxygen.

Question 20

What does it mean when more oxygen can be transported around the body at once?

Answer 20

Muscles can respire quicker and produce more energy, which is very useful as it can have a big impact on athletes performance.

Question 21

What is a pulse oximeter?

Answer 21

A non-invasive method of measuring someone’s blood oxygen saturation.

Question 22

How is a pulse oximeter used?

Answer 22

The device is usually attached to the subject’s finger and works by sending two wavelengths through the finger.

Question 23

How is a pulse oximeter measured?

Answer 23

By a photodetector as the light exits.

Question 24

Why can the blood oxygen saturation be determined?

Answer 24

Haemoglobin absorbs light differently depending on its saturation with oxygen.

Question 25

What is the normal range for blood saturation levels?

Answer 25

95-99%

Question 26

What does emphysema cause?

Answer 26

Enlarged alveoli by the destruction of alveoli walls, meaning there is a smaller surface are for gas exchnage.

Question 27

If someone has emphysema what happens to the rate of diffusion.

Answer 27

Rate of diffusion of oxygen in the blood is slowed, meaning they would have a low saturation of oxygen.

Question 28

How is cystic fibrosis caused?

Answer 28

A faulty gene that disrupts the movement of salt and water around the body which leads to a build up of sticky mucus around the body.

Question 29

What can the stick mucus cause?

Answer 29

Problems in the airway by widening the walls of the airway, causing bacterial infections and causing blood in the airway.

Question 30

What is the blood oxygen saturation like for a person with cystic fibrosis?

Answer 30

Much lower.

Question 31

What is a sphygmomanometers?

Answer 31

Device used to measure blood pressure.

Question 32

Describe a sphygmomanometers

Answer 32

Usually a rubber cuff and are wrapped around the arm.

Question 33

Describe how a sphygmomanometers is used

Answer 33

The heart beats, blood is forced through the arteries which causes a rise in pressure known as systolic pressure.

Then followed by a decrease in pressure as the heart’s ventricles prepare for another beat, which is also known as a diastolic pressure.

Question 34

An example of a typical reading?

Answer 34

120/80

systolic pressure/diastolic pressure