respiratory system part 2

Gas Transport

• Oxygen is carried by Hemoglobin in RBCs

• Only a small amount of CO2 is carried by hemoglobin.

  • Most is converted into Bicarbonate by the enzyme Carbonic Anhydrase in RBCs

  • CO₂ + H₂O ↔ H₂CO₃ ↔ HCO₃⁻ + H⁺

• Reaction reverses in the lungs, allowing for the release of CO₂

Acid

substance that donates a proton (H⁺)

Base

substance that accepts proton (H⁺)

pH

• a scale to measure how acidic or basic a substance is. 

  • Related to the concentration of H⁺ in the solution.

the lower the pH

the greater the [H⁺] = more acidic

the higher the pH

the lower the [H⁺] = more basic

Equilibrium reaction

a reaction in which the forward reaction proceeds at the same rate as the reverse reaction. No net change in amounts of reactants or products

Forward reaction

reactants to products

Reverse reaction

products back to reactants

Le Chatelier's Principle

You can manipulate the direction of an equilibrium reaction by adjusting amounts of reactants or products.

Shift right

forward reaction progresses more.

• Reactants used up, products made

Shift left

reverse reaction progresses more.

• Products used up, reactants made.

what is A?

shift right

what is B?

shift left

what is C?

shift left

what is D?

shift right

pH Regulation

• The Bicarbonate buffer system allows for regulation of blood pH

• The production of Bicarbonate also produces H⁺ which makes the blood more acidic

• Therefore, by controlling the amount of CO2, the body can control the pH of the blood.