Mass transport Flashcards
Haemoglobin primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure
P: Sequence of amino acids
S: Coiled helix
T: Folded to precise shape to carry oxygen
Q: 4 polypeptide molecules linked. Each polypeptide associated with haem group with Fe2+ which can each bond with O2.
High/low affinity for O2 meaning
Associates easily, dissociates less easily/vice versa
Roles of haemoglobin
Associate with O2 where gas exchange takes place.
Dissociate from oxygen at tissues.
Explanation for oxygen dissociation curve shape (S shape)
Low O2 concentrations, hard to bind to first haem group, low gradient.
Binding of first O2 changes quaternary structure of haemoglobin to uncover 2nd binding site, gradient steepens. Positive cooperability.
After binding of 3rd molecule, probability means O2 is not as likely to bind to an empty site, decreasing gradient.
How to read affinity from an O2 dissociation graph
Further left graph = higher affinity
Further right graph = lower affinity.
Bohr effect (effect of CO2 conc.)
Greater conc of CO2, O2 offloads more easily (lower affinity).
Bohr effect use in gas exchange
Conc of CO2 is low at gas exchange surface because it diffuses out of organism.
Affinity for O2 increases + high conc of O2 means it is loaded into haemoglobin.
Curve shifted left.
Bohr effect in respiring tissues
CO2 conc. = high due to respiration.
Affinity for O2 reduced + low conc. of O2 (used in respiration) means O2 is readily unloaded.
Curve shifted right.
Bohr effect in transport of oxygen
Lower conc. of CO2 means pH in blood raised at gas exchange surface.
Higher pH changes shape of haemoglobin so it can load oxygen readily and does not offload on the way to tissues.
Tissues produce CO2 which lowers pH of blood.
Haemoglobin then changes shape into one with lower affinity for O2 and O2 released into respiring tissues.
Lugworm adaptations
Spends part of day buried so must use remaining oxygen in burrow to survive.
O2 dissociation curve shifted to left extremely, high affinity. Haemoglobin remains loaded even when there is little available oxygen.
Llama adaptations
Lives in high altitude. Low atmospheric pressure and low partial pressure of O2.
Must have high affinity in order to stay loaded with O2.
Why large organisms have transport systems
Low SA:V, needs of organisms cannot be met by body surface.
Materials must be transported between parts of organisms.
Materials from exchange surfaces to cells and vice-versa.
Why must mammals have a closed, double circulatory system
When blood is passed through lungs, pressure is reduced, therefore blood is returned to heart to increase its pressure so substances are passed through body quickly.
Structure of mammal circulatory system.
- Blood leaves right ventricle via pulmonary artery to lungs and returns to left atrium via pulmonary vein.
- Blood leaves left ventricle via aorta to body and returns to right atrium via vena cava.
Name of vessels entering and leaving kidney and liver.
Renal artery, renal vein. Hepatic artery, hepatic vein.
Why does left ventricle have a very thick wall
To contract to create enough pressure to pump blood to rest of the body.
Names of valves and locations
Left atrioventricular valve - between left atrium and ventricle.
Right atrioventricular valve - between right atrium and ventricle.
Semilunar valves - to pulmonary artery and to aorta.
Aorta connections and function
Connected to left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood around body