Mass Transport Flashcards
1
Q
Haemoglobin
A
- Found in red blood cells
- Large protein with a quaternary structure
- Four polypeptide chains linking in a globular shape
- Each chain has a haem group
- Which contains an iron ion that can combine with a single oxygen molecule
2
Q
Formation Of Oxyhaemoglobin
A
- Haemoglobin has a high affinity (tendency to combine with) for oxygen
- Each molecule can carry four oxygen molecules
- In the lungs oxygen joins to haemoglobin in red blood cells to form oxyhemoglobin
- Reversible reaction; oxygen can dissociate from oxyhemoglobin
Hb + 4O2 = HbO8
3
Q
Partial Pressure Of Oxygen
A
- Measure of oxygen concentration
- The greater the concentration of dissolved oxygen, higher the partial pressure
- There is high partial pressure in the lungs so haemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen there
4
Q
Loading & Unloading Of Oxygen
A
- Oxygen enters blood capillaries at the alveoli in the lungs
- Alveoli have a high partial pressure of oxygen so oxygen loads onto haemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin
- Respiring cells use up oxygen, this lowers the partial pressure of oxygen
- Red blood cells deliver oxyhemoglobin to respiring tissues where it unloads its oxygen
- Haemoglobin returns to the lungs to pick up more oxygen
5
Q
Haemoglobin In Different Organisms
A
- Different structures because of different DNA
- Form different primary structures and have different numbers of polypeptide chains in the tertiary structure
- Organisms in environments with low concentration of oxygen (partial pressure) have haemoglobin with a higher affinity for oxygen than human haemoglobin
- This dissociation curve is to the left of the human one
- Organisms that are active with high oxygen demand have haemoglobin with a lower affinity for oxygen than human (so it can dissociate more easily for use in respiration)
- This curve is to the right of the human one
6
Q
Dissociation Curves Show Affinity For Oxygen
A
- Lungs: partial pressure is high so haemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen; it readily combines to oxygen as there is a high saturation of it
- Respiring Cells: partial pressure is low in respiring tissue so haemoglobin has a low affinity for oxygen; it releases oxygen as there is a low saturation of it
7
Q
S-shape Of Dissociation Curves
A
- When haemoglobin combines with the first oxygen molecule it’s shape alters
- It makes it easier for other oxygen molecules to then join too
- As haemoglobin becomes more saturated it gets harder for more oxygen molecules to join
- The curve has a steep middle where it’s easy for oxygen molecules to join and shallow ends parts where it’s harder
8
Q
Haemoglobin & Carbon Dioxide
A
- Respiring cells produce carbon dioxide
- This decreases blood pH and makes it slightly acidic
- Haemoglobin is a protein so its shape is changed as hydrogen bonds are broken
- This decreases it’s affinity for oxygen and allows oxygen to unload more easily and be used up by respiring cells
9
Q
The Bohr Effect
A
- Respiring cells produce carbon dioxide which increases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide
- At higher partial pressures of carbon dioxide haemoglobin unloads it’s oxygen more easily
- This increases the rate at which oxygen dissociates from oxyhemoglobin
- The dissociation curve shifts to the right because the saturation of blood with oxygen is lower for a given partial pressure of oxygen as more is being released for use by respiring cells
10
Q
The Circulatory System
A
- There are two circuits
- One circuit takes blood from the heart to the lungs then back to the heart
- The other takes blood around the rest of the body
11
Q
Coronary Arteries
A
- Supply the heart with oxygenated blood
12
Q
Arteries
A
- Carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body
- All carry oxygenated except for pulmonary arteries (take deoxygenated blood to the lungs)
- Have thick walls to maintain high pressure
- Branch into arterioles
13
Q
Arterioles
A
- Form a network throughout the body
- Muscles inside arterioles direct blood to areas of demand in the body
- By contracting to restrict blood and relaxing to allow full blood flow
- Branch into capillaries
14
Q
Capillaries
A
- Smallest blood vessels
- Found near exchange tissues e.g. alveoli
- One cell thick walls for a short diffusion pathway
- Large number of capillaries to increase surface area for exchange
- Network of capillaries in a tissue are called capillary beds
15
Q
Veins
A
- Take blood back to the heart
- Under low pressure so have a wider lumen than arteries and little muscle tissue
- All carry deoxygenated blood except pulmonary veins (carry oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs)
- Have valves to prevent blood flowing backwards
16
Q
Tissue Fluid
A
- Surrounds cells in tissues
- Made from small molecules that leave the blood plasma e.g. water, oxygen and nutrients
- Tissue fluid forms because of the high hydrostatic pressure of blood at the arteriole end of the capillary that pushes fluid out of the blood
- Most fluid re-enters the capillaries e.g. the water by osmosis
- Excessive tissue fluid is drained into the lymphatic system
17
Q
The Heart
A
- Consists of two muscular pumps
- The right-side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
- The left-side pumps oxygenated blood to the whole body
- Diastole is a period of relaxation
- Systole is a period of contraction