Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Learning Objectives
Covering the the transport of O2 and CO2 in the blood and tissue fluids. Know how O2 and CO2 diffuse in pulmonary capillaries, systemic capillaries and in tissues. Understand and be able to use the O2-hemoglobin dissociation curve. Know the quantity of O2 and CO2 delivered by the blood. Know what causes shifts in the O2-hemoglobin dissociation curve. Know how CO2 is transported in the blood and understand the Haldane Effect.
Movement of Gases
Gases move by diffusion, from areas of high partial pressure to areas of low partial pressure.
- In the alveoli, O2 moves from the alveoli (high PO2) to the pulmonary blood (low PO2). - In the tissues, O2 moves from the blood (high PO2) to the tissues (low PO2).
How does the pulmonary anatomy allow the capillary blood to reach a PO2 of 104 mm Hg so quickly in the venous end? - Surface area (70 cm2 of respiratory
membrane for 60-140 mL blood). - Thin respiratory membrane. - PO2.
The PO2 in the arterial blood is ~ 95 mm Hg and PO2 in the interstitial fluid is ~ 40 mm Hg. Thus, the PO2 ~ 55 mm Hg for the diffusion of O2 into the interstitial fluid. The PO2 in the interstitial fluid is ~ 40 mm Hg and the PO2 in the tissues ~ 23 mm Hg. Thus, the PO2 ~ 17 mm Hg for the diffusion of O2 into the tissues.
The PCO2 in the tissues ~ 46 mm Hg and the PCO2 in the interstitial fluid ~ 45 mm Hg. Thus, the PCO2 ~ 1 mm Hg for the diffusion of O2 into the interstitial fluid. The PCO2 in the interstitial fluid ~ 45 mm Hg and the PCO2 in the arterial capillary blood ~ 40 mm Hg. Thus, the PCO2 ~ 5 mm Hg for the diffusion of O2 into the blood.
Transport of O2 by Hemoglobin
Nearly all the O2 (~ 97%) is transported in the blood by hemoglobin. One hemoglobin molecule contains 4 heme prosthetic groups.
The venous blood PO2 only needs to drop to 35 mm Hg (from 40) for 5 ml of O2 per 100 ml to be delivered
Most of the CO2 in RBCs reacts with H2O, forming carbonic acid, which dissociates to H+ and bicarbonate ion.
Many of the bicarbonate ions are transported out of the RBC in exchange for Cl- by the bicarbonate-chloride carrier protein.
Haldane Effect
The binding of O2 to carbaminohemoglobin promotes its conversion to hemoglobin and CO2. The binding of O2 to hemoglobin causes the release of a H+ ion. The H+ ion can then combine with bicarbonate ion to form carbonic acid, which then dissociates to CO2 and H2O.