BRAINCAKETransport of Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide produced by respiring cells diffuses into the blood and is carried to the lungs in three ways:
• about 5% is dissolved in the plasma
• about 10 to 20% combines with the amino groups of haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin
• about 75 to 85% is carried as hydrogencarbonate ions (HCO3−) in the plasma
Formation of hydrogencarbonate ions
Carbon dioxide diffuses into erythrocytes. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase catalyses its reaction with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates:
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Key terms in this lesson
- buffer
- A substance that resists changes in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen ions.
More in Circulatory Systems
- Oxygen Dissociation Curve for Haemoglobin
- The Bohr Effect
- Fetal Haemoglobin
- Myoglobin
- Blood Clotting
- The Blood Clotting Cascade
- Blood Vessels
- Arteries
All 33 lessons in Circulatory Systems · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics