Haemoglobin

Question 1

General structure and number of Haemoglobin, how it differs in fœtus

Answer 1

each rbc has 300mil Hb, 4 globin chains (2 alpha 2 beta) so 4 haem groups held in porphyrin ring. Fetal Hb has gamma not beta chains

Question 2

Hb dissociation curve- what does the initial O2 binding cause

Answer 2

co-operativity= induced conformational change in structure of Hb by binding of initial O2.

Question 3

Hb dissociation curve, right shift, what this means for O2 delivery and discuss Bohr effect

Answer 3

easier O2 delivery: -High CO2, low pH = Bohr effect; more metabolism, more CO2, lower pH, more O2 unloading

• high 2,3-DPG
• HbS

Question 4

Hb dissociation curve, left shift, what this means for O2 delivery

Answer 4

O2 given up less readily: HbF has higher affinity for O2, CO