Mass transport 7.1 - 7.9 Flashcards
Describe the quaternary structure of haemoglobin
4 polypeptides (2 alpha and 2 beta) link to form a spherical molecule
Each polypeptide has a haem group which contains a ferrous (Fe2+) ion
Is the oxygen concentration of haemoglobin at the lungs low or high?
high
Is the oxygen concentration of haemoglobin at respiring tissues low or high?
low
Is the CO2 concentration of haemoglobin at the lungs low or high?
low
Is the CO2 concentration of haemoglobin at respiring tissues low or high?
high
Is the affinity for oxygen high or low at the lungs?
What does this mean in terms of oxygen dissociation?
High
Oxygen readily associates but doesn’t easily dissociate
Is the affinity for oxygen high or low at the respiring tissues?
What does this mean in terms of oxygen dissociation?
Low
Oxygen readily dissociates but doesn’t easily associate
What is the difference in the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen in mother and foetus?
Foetus has higher affinity than mother
At same ppO2 foetus haemoglobin can load more oxgen, which is necessary since oxygen moves from mother to foetus
How does DNA lead to different haemoglobin molecules having different affinities for oxygen?
-Different base sequence
-Amino acid/primary
structure is different
- Therefore tertiary/quaternary structure is different
- Shape is different
- Different affinities
How does the dissociation of haemoglobin retain a reserve supply of oxygen?
Haemoglobin carries 4 oxygen molecules but only releases one when the body is at rest.
This means that there is a reserve supply for increased respiratory demands
Explain the initial low gradient in the oxygen dissociation curve
4 polypeptide chains are closely united so it is difficult for oxygen to find a binding site
Explain the rapid increase in gradient in the oxygen dissociation curve
First oxygen binding induces further binding due to changes in quaternary structure/shape
Smaller increase in partial pressure required to bind further oxygen molecules
Explain the leveling off of the oxygen dissociation curve
Majority of binding sites are occupied
-harder to find available site to bind to
As affinity of haemoglobin increases, what direction does the dissociation curve move?
left
Describe the bohr effect
- When tissues respire CO2 levels increase
- Rate of oxygen unloading increases
- Affinity decreases/curve moves right
- At same ppO2 blood saturation of oxygen is lower
- More oxygen is released
Explain why the affinity of haemoglobin changes at respiring tissues
- CO2 transported in blood
- Blood pH decreases at tissues as CO2 increases (more acidic)
- Decrease in pH changes shape of haemoglobin molecule
- Oxygen dissociates more readily/affinity decreases
Explain why the affinity of haemoglobin changes at exchange surfaces
- At lungs CO2 is constantly being removed so concentration is low
- Blood pH increases as CO2 concentration decreases
- Shape of haemoglobin changesso that affinity for oxygen increases
Explain the affinity of haemoglobin in a lugworm
- Little oxygen available in environment when tide is out
- High affinity at low ppO2 to associate the maximum amount of oxygen available
Explain the affinity of haemoglobin in a llama
Low ppO2 due to high altitude and low atmospheric pressure.
-little O2 available in environment leads to high affinity to maximise association with O2
Why does birds’ haemoglobin have a lower affinity for oxygen than humans’?
Higher metabolic rate/respiratory demands means that O2 must be able to dissociate quicker
Why do large organisms need a mass transport system?
- Lower SA:vol so demands cannot be met by diffusion alone
- Higher metabolic rate/respiratory demands
Why do mammals have a double circulatory system?
- Blood pressure decreases by too much between lungs and body
- High pressure is required to adequately supply all tissues and meet respiratory demands
What is the function of the septum in the heart and why is this important?
prevents mixing of blood in 2 sides of the heart
- only partially O2 saturated blood would reach tissues so respiratory demands wouldn’t be met
- concentration gradient decreased so less O2 uptake in lungs
What is the path taken by blood from the lungs, to the body, and then back to the lungs?
Lungs
pulmonary vein
left atrium
bicuspid/LAV valves
left ventricle
SL valves
aorta
body
vena cava
right atrium
tricuspid/RAV valves
right ventricle
SL valves
pulmonary artery
lungs
Which blood vessel is connected to the right atrium?
Does this carry oxygenated or deoxygenated blood?
Vena cava
deoxygenated
Which blood vessel is connected to the left atrium?
Does this carry oxygenated or deoxygenated blood?
Pulmonary vein
oxygenated