Oxy-Haemoglobin Curve Flashcards
Why is the oxyhaemoglobin curve a sigmoid shape?
Because the binding of oxygen to haemoglobin exhibits cooperativity
Why is the levelling off of the oxyhaemoglobin curve to a plateau phase after around 60mmHg partial pressure of oxygen important?
Because as partial pressure of oxygen decreases from 100-60mmHg the total quantity of oxygen carried by haemoglobin decreases by only around 10% which is an important safety mechanism for when people are at high altitudes or have pulmonary disease and alveolar and therefore arteriolar partial pressure of oxygen is decreased
Foetal haemoglobin shifts the oxyhaemoglobin curve to which side compared to an adult curve?
Left
What changes in pH, DPG and temperature cause a shift in the oxyhaemoglobincurve to the right?
pH decrease
DPG increase
Temperature increase
