Carbon Dioxide Transport

Question 1

how much CO2 gets dissolved in plasma?

Answer 1

5-10 %
help establish PCO2 of blood

Question 2

how much CO2 bind to hemoglobin, and what is the product called

Answer 2

about 20% of CO2 bind to hemoglobin, forming carbaminohemoglobin

Question 3

how much CO2 transport via Bicarbonate System?

Answer 3

70-75%

Question 4

how does Bicarbonate System work?

Answer 4

-at cell, CO2 leaves cell and diffuses into the erythrocyte, it binds with water to form carbonic acid. Carbonic acid then splits into a bicarbonate ion and a hydrogen ion. The bicarbonate ion leaves the erythrocyte and travel with the plasma, while a chloride ion replaces it; the hydrogen ion binds to hemoglobin.
- at lungs, the reaction is reversed, the bicarbonate enters, collecting hydrogen from hemoglobin and form carbonic acid, which then split into CO2 and H2O, making CO2 leave through alveoli while allowing O2 to bind to hemoglobin

Question 5

What is the normal blood pH

Answer 5

pH 7.4

Question 6

Why does blood pH decrease (higher H+ concentration) during excercise?

Answer 6

Because there is a build up of lactic acid

Question 7

how does increase in ventilation restore the decreased pH during excercise

Answer 7

Hyperventilation during exercise gets rid of the build up of CO2 in our body, which forces the bicarbonate ion and hydrogen ion back to forming carbonic acid and then split into CO2 and water (CO2 gets breathed out), getting rid of the excess hydrogen ions