Haemoglobin Flashcards
how much oxygens can bind to haemoglobin
4
what is meant by loading / association
when oxygen is taken up by haemoglobin
what is meant by unloading / dissociation
when oxygen is released by haemoglobin
what is meant by affinity
natural attraction
what is meant by partial pressure
the amount of a particular gas in a mixture of gases
- is the partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs high or low
- is the affinity high or low for oxygen in the lungs
- high
- high
- is the partial pressure of oxygen in the tissue high or low
- is the affinity for oxygen in the tissues high or low
- low
- low
what happens if the affinity for oxygen is low
dissociation
where does oxygen load
at the lungs where there is alot of oxygen
where does oxygen unload
at respiring tissues where there is a demand for it
explain why there is a lower affinity for oxygen at respiring tissues
- at respiring tissues there is a higher concentration of carbon dioxide
- carbon dioxide dissolves in the blood, forming carbonic acid
- this lowers the pH of the blood, makng it more acidic
- this alters the shape of haemoglobin, lowering its affinity
explain why the first oxygen to bind to haemoglobin is slow but it is faster for the rest of the oxygen
- the first oxygen molecule combines slowly
- the binding of the first molecule causes the tertiary structure of haemoglobin to change
- this exposes the rest of the oxygen binding sites, making it easier for the other oxygen mlecules to bind
what is the Bohr effect
where the curve shifts to the right
describe the advantage of the Bohr effect during intense exercise
- lower affinity for oxygen
- more unloading of oxygen
- more oxygen supplied to aerobically respiring tissues
explain the type of haemoglobin an organism will have that lives in a low oxygen environment and the effect this has on the oxgen dissociation curve
- high affinity for oxygen
- oxygen dissociation curve will shift to the left
