Carbon dioxide, pH, and the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve

lesson 2, unit 5, week 4

hemoglobin dropping off oxygen

each hemoglobin drops off only 1 of every 4 oxygen it carries, and then return to the lungs still carrying 3 oxygens (75% saturated).

If a cell was more metabolically active what does that have to do with po2

that cell would be using more oxygen to create ATP, so PO2 would be lower (30mmhg instead of 40 at rest). this also means hemoglobin would release more oxygen to the cell, returning to the lungs closer to 60% saturated

how to maximize oxygen delivery to more metabolically active tissue?

since hemoglobin has an affinity (attraction) to oxygen, which is why oxygen binds to hemoglobin. if we can decrease that affinity, we can release even more oxygen as blood moves thru the systemic capillaries of that tissue.

bohr effect

when there is high pco2 (metabolically active)low ph, or increased temp hemoglobin is more likely to deliver more oxygen for any give po2. this means the blood or hemoglobin let behind one more oxygen, and took two back to the lungs.

why does hemoglobins affinity change?

proteins change when pH changes, and proteins change when temps changes (denaturation). so these conditions will change the structure of hemoglobin a little bit to make it willing to let go of oxygen

hypothermic and effects of bohr effect

same, but opposite