Letís learn about carbon dioxide transport in the blood.
Our lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Our cells take in oxygen and use it for making energy to keep us alive.
The cells also produce carbon dioxide that must be carried to the lungs by way of the
blood.
Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood.
A small amount of carbon dioxide is carried in the blood plasma.
A little more is carried in the red blood cell by hemoglobin.
Carbon dioxide diffuses into the red blood cell where it can attach to hemoglobin forming
carbaminohemoglobin.
Most of the carbon dioxide is carried in the bicarbonate ion.
Hereís how it works.
Carbon dioxide diffuses into the red blood cell.
Once inside it combines with water and an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase to form carbonic
acid. it dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate
ions.
The hydrogen ion binds to hemoglobin triggering the Bohr effect.
The bicarbonate ion moves out of the red blood cell through a protein channel.
The bicarbonate ion channel also co-transports chloride into the red blood cell.
This is called the chloride shift.
Since this reaction also occurs in the blood but without carbonic anhydrase, a buildup
carbon dioxide in the blood can have an effect on blood pH because of the production of hydrogen
ions.
If the respiratory system cannot get rid of carbon dioxide, more hydrogen ions are produced
causing the pH to go downÖthe blood can become acidic in a condition known as respiratory
acidosis.
You can induce a slight state of respiratory acidosis by holding your breath.
Likewise if too much carbon dioxide leaves the lungs, the hydrogen ion concentration
decreases in the blood causing it to become alkaline
this condition is called respiratory alkalosis.
You can induce a state of respiratory alkalosis by hyperventilating.
We hope you have learned something about carbon dioxide transportÖandÖsee you next time.