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Peak Performance - CO transport

4 important questions on Peak Performance - CO transport

How much CO2 is transported around in 100ml of blood?

4ml

What happens when CO2 diffuses into the tissue capillaries?

Undergoes a series of reactions that are essential for its transportation:
1. Reacts with water to form H+ ions. These H+ ions are carried around by the Hb, which acts as a buffer, to form HHb. The bicarbonate ions diffuse out of the cell and chloride ions diffuse into the cell in what is called the chloride shift.
2. Reacts with amine radicals of the Hb = carboaminoHb (CO2Hgb).

The reaction between CO2 and the Hb is a reversible reaction so that the CO2 can diffuse out of the blood and into the lungs.

What is the Bohr effect?

The production of CO2 makes the blood more acidic which gives Hb a greater tendency to release O2.

What is the Haldane effect?

That an increase in O2, and subsequent binding to Hb, reduced Hb affinity for CO2. This is because upon binding with O2, the Hb becomes a stronger acid:
1. CO2 does not bind to the amine radicals of HB.
2. Release bound H+ which bind with the bicarbonate ions and reform CO2.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Cases for Peak performace

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