Physiology 5 - CO2 transport

Question 1

3 ways CO2 is transported in the blood?

Answer 1

1) as bicarbonate
2) in solution
- as free dissolved carbon dioxide
3) as carbamino compounds e.g. carbaminohaemoglobin

Question 2

state which method of transportation carries the most CO2.

Answer 2

bicarbonate carries the most CO2

Question 3

describe how bicarbonate is formed.

Answer 3

1) CO2 combines with H20 to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)
- this is called by carbonic anhydrase
2) carbonic acid (H2CO3) then dissociates into H+ and HCO3-, which is bicarbonate

Question 4

what enzyme catalyses the formation of bicarbonate?

Answer 4

carbonic anhydrase enzyme

Question 5

in what cells does this formation occur?

Answer 5

within the red blood cells

Question 6

how is carbaminohaemoglobin formed?

Answer 6

CO2 combines with the TERMINAL AMINE GROUPS of haemoglobin

Question 7

does deoxygenated haemoglobin have a greater of lower affinity for CO2 than oxygenated haemoglobin?

Answer 7

deoxygenated haemoglobin has GREATER affinity for CO2

Question 8

What is the Haldane effect?

Answer 8

1) removing O2 from Hb increases the ability fo Hb to pick up CO2 & CO2 generated H+
OR
2) the binding of O2 to Hb promotes the release of CO2

Question 9

describe why carbon dioxide has the ability to be transported in solution?

Answer 9

because it is 20x more soluble than O2