Hemoglobin Buffer System Flashcards
1
Q
Features of red blood cells
A
- Contain 5.5% of the ICF
- Are normally suspended in the plasma
- Are densely packed with hemoglobin
- Their cytoplasm contains large amounts of carbonic anhydrase
2
Q
Red blood cells have a significant effect on the pH of the ECF
A
Because they absorb carbon dioxide from the plasma and convert it to carbonic acid
3
Q
Chloride shift
A
After carbon dioxide diffuse across the red blood cell membrane the carbonic acid dissociates within the red blood cell, the bicarbonate ions diffuse into the plasma in exchange for chloride ion
4
Q
Hemoglobin molecules buffer
A
The hydrogen ions
5
Q
The hemoglobin buffer system is the only intra-cellular buffer system that can have an immediate effect on the pH of
A
The ECF
6
Q
The hemoglobin buffer system helps prevent drastic changes in pH when
A
The plasma P CO2 is increasing or decreasing
