The transportation of oxygen

Question 1

What is haemoglobin?

Answer 1

• Oxygen carrier in the red blood cells.
• When oxygen joins with haemoglobin it forms oxyhaemoglobin.
• Job= to transport oxygen to the working muscles.

Question 2

What is myoglobin?

Answer 2

• Oxygen carrier in the muscles.
• Found in slow twitch muscle fibres.
• Has a higher affinity to oxygen than haemoglobin.
• Job= to supply oxygen during exercise.

Question 3

The transport of O2 from the lungs to the muscle.

Answer 3

1. Partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli is high, so the oxygen moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure- the blood (diffusion).
2. From here haemoglobin is saturated with oxygen.
3. This forms oxyhaemoglobin.
4. At the muscle, oxygen disassociates itself from the haemoglobin because of the lower partial pressure in the myoglobin (muscles).
5. It is then stored in the myoglobin awaiting to be used for aerobic respiration.

Question 4

The oxyhaemoglobin disassociation curve.

Answer 4

• This curve shows the saturation of haemoglobin at the lungs and at the muscle tissue.

Question 5

Bohr shift

Answer 5

• The S-shaped line moves to the right.
• It happens because the muscles require more oxygen.

Question 6

Why does the Bohr shift occur?

Answer 6

1, Start exercising.
2. Increase in blood temperature.
3. Increase in partial pressure of CO2.
4. Increase in blood acidity (decrease in pH).
5. Increased disassociation of oxygen from the haemoglobin.
6. Muscles/myoglobin receive more oxygen.

This process is known as the Bohr shift!!!!!

Question 7

Long term effects of exercise on the transportation of O2.

Answer 7

1. More blood volume.
2. Increased A-VO2 diff.
3. Increased capillarisation.

Question 8

Transport of carbon dioxide.

Answer 8

Carbon dioxide is transported in the blood in 3 ways:
1. Carbonic acid.
2. Dissolved in plasma.
3. Combines with haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin.