Chapter 7 - Mass Transport Flashcards
What is mass transport?
When all substances move in the same direction at the same speed
What does the blood contain? And what is in that?
- contains red blood cells
- these also contain a protein called HAEMOGLOBIN which is used to transport oxygen in the blood
What are the 3 main adaptations of red blood cells?
- Large SA:V ratio- speeds up diffusion of oxygen into and out of the cell
- Flat - biconcave disc shape so short diffusion pathways
- No nucleus - more space for haemoglobin
Why is red blood cells having no mitochondria an advantage?
- aerobic respiration by mitochondria would use up oxygen in the red blood cells
- enables more space for haemoglobin
What sort of structure does haemoglobin have? And what does this mean?
QUATERNARY STRUCTURE
Contains more than one polypeptide chain
Describe the structure of haemoglobin.
- made of 4 polypeptide chains (subunits): 2 alpha and 2 beta polypeptide chains
- each subunit has one non protein haem group embedded in it
- each haem group contains an iron ion (Fe2+)
- each haem group can bind one oxygen molecule
- so haemoglobin can bind 4 oxygen molecules in total
What is the cooperative nature of haemoglobin?
-Binding of the first oxygen molecule changes the tertiary structure of haemoglobin;
-This creates another binding site for oxygen and a second oxygen molecule binds;
-This changes the tertiary structure of haemoglobin again and a third binding site is created;
- so the change in shape of haemoglobin caused by binding of the first oxygens makes the binding of further oxygens easier.
What is meant by partial pressure, what is its symbol and what increases is?
- The pressure exerted by an individual gas in a mixture of gases
- pO2 is the symbol for “partial pressure of oxygen”.
- Higher concentrations of a particular gas will increase the partial pressure for that gas.
What is meant by the terms:
1. Oxygen loading
2. Oxygen unloading
3. Oxyhaemoglobin
4. Deoxyhaemglobin
- Oxygen loading: haemoglobin associating with/picking up oxygen;
- Oxygen unloading: haemoglobin dissociating from/releasing oxygen;
- Oxyhaemoglobin: haemoglobin that has oxygen bound to it;
- Deoxyhaemoglobin: haemoglobin that does not have oxygen bound to it.
With reference to the oxygen dissociation curve, why is the S shape important?
- In the lungs, haemoglobin can become fully saturated at a lower pO2 than if the relationship was linear
The steep part means that:
1. for a small decrease in the pO2 there will be a large decrease in the % saturation of haemoglobin with O2.
2. So more O2 will be unloaded to the tissues for aerobic respiration.
- the more the curve shifts to the RIGHT, the lower the AFFINITY of oxygen by haemoglobin
What is the general meaning of the Bohr effect?
A higher carbon dioxide concentration will help oxygen to unload
Describe the Bohr effect [4].
- Respiring tissues release CO2 as waste;
- CO2 accumulates in the blood and lowers its pH;
- This is due CO2 dissolving in blood to form acid, which increases the hydrogen ion concentration of the blood;
- The drop in pH changes the tertiary structure of haemoglobin so oxygen is more easily released;
What occurs in the lungs during mass transport in humans?
- CO2 diffuses down its concentration gradient from blood to the alveoli to be exhaled;
- This lowers the concentration of CO2 in the blood and raises blood pH;
- This changes the tertiary structure of haemoglobin back to a shape that can more readily bind oxygen;
- The high pO2 in the lungs means that haemoglobin is rapidly saturated with oxygen
Why does the left side of the heart have thicker walls than the right side?
Left (ventricle) pumps blood to the BODY rather than to just the lungs
Therefore… a more forceful contraction is needed
What do coronary arteries do?
Provide the heart muscle with oxygen and glucose
How does the heart maintain a unidirectional flow of blood?
- refer to pressure and volume changes and valve movements.
STEP 1
Atria + ventricles relaxed so fill with blood
- Blood enters the atria and ventricles from pulmonary veins (left) and vena cava (right)
- semi lunar valves = closed
- left and right atrioventricular valves open
- relaxation of ventricles allows blood to enter from atria
How does the heart maintain a unidirectional flow of blood?
- refer to pressure and volume changes and valve movements.
STEP 2
Atria contract (tops up ventricles with blood), ventricles still relaxed
- Atria contract to push remaining blood into ventricles
- semi lunar valves closed
- left and right atrioventricular valves open
How does the heart maintain a unidirectional flow of blood?
- refer to pressure and volume changes and valve movements.
STEP 3
Atria relax, ventricles contract so blood moves into pulmonary artery and aorta
- Blood is pumped into pulmonary artery and aorta
- semi lunar valves open
- left and right atrioventricular valves close
- ventricles contract
What do valves do and how do they work?
Prevent the back flow of blood
- when pressure is GREATER IN FRONT of the valves it closes
- when pressure is GREATER BEHIND the valve it opens
Exam tip - unidirectional flow of blood
Talk about the pressure of blood in the chambers and whether this is higher IN FRONT OF or BEHIND the valve causing the valve to either open or close
What does the term myogenic mean?
Muscle contraction is initiated from the muscle itself rather than from a nerve