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Explain the transport mechanism of oxygen. |
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Answer» Oxygen binds with haemoglobin in reversible manner to form oxyhaemoglobin. About 97% of O2 is transported as oxyhaemoglobin. Each haemoglobin molecule can carry a maximum of four molecules of O2. Binding of O2 with haemoglobin depends on partial pressure of oxygen primarily and also on partial pressure of carbon dioxide, hydrogen ion concentration and temperature. In the alveoli, where there is high pO2, low pCO2, lesser H+ concentration and lower temperature, the factors are all favourable for the formation of oxyhaemoglobin, whereas in the tissues, where low PO2, high PCO2, high H+ concentration and higher temperature exist the conditions are favourable for dissociation of oxygen from the oxyhemoglobin. This indicates that O2 gets bound to haemoglobin in the lung surface and gets dissociated at the tissues. |
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