exchange and transport (haemoglobin) Flashcards
what is haemoglobin?
protein with a quarternary structure
what is the role of haemoglobin?
to transport oxygen
what is affinity for oxygen?
the ability to bind to oxygen
what is saturation with oxygen?
the amount of oxygen in a red blood cell
what is loading/association?
binding of oxygen to haemoglobin, in areas of high partial pressure
what is unloading/dissociation?
oxygen detaches from haemoglobin in areas of low partial pressure
why is a haemoglobin graph S shaped?
changes shape when the first haemoglobin binds- easier for others to bind but becomes harder upon saturation
why would a haemoglobin graph shift to the left?
to have a higher affinity for oxygen
why would a haemoglobin graph shift to the right?
to have a lower affinity for oxygen
in which situations would a haemoglobin graph shift to the left?
for a foetus, myoglobin, areas of high altitude
in which situations would a haemoglobin graph shift to the right?
fast metabolism, Bohr effect
what do haemoglobin and oxygen combine to form?
oxyhaemoglobin
how does carbon dioxide concentration affect oxygen unloading? (Bohr effect)
when cells respire they produce carbon dioxide
this increases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide
this increases the rate of oxygen unloading
dissocation curve shifts to the right, as oxygen gives up more readily at high partial pressures of carbon dioxide
saturation of blood with oxygen lower for a given partial pressure of oxygen
more oxygen is released
