Gas Transport:
- Oxygen is transported in the blood through two ways.
- Most oxygen attaches to hemoglobin molecules inside the RBA's to form oxyhemoglobin.
- A very small amount is carried and dissolved in plasma.
- Bicarbonate ions carry most carbon dioxide and plays an important role in the blood buffer system.
- Between 20 and 30% of transported CO2 is carried inside the RCBs bound to hemoglobin.
- CO2 and O bind to hemoglobin at different sites. Therefore, CO2 doesn't get in the way of oxygen transport.
- CO2 needs to diffuse out of blood into the alveoli. But first it needs to be released from the bicarbonate ion. This means that the bicarbonate ion needs to combine with H+ to form Carbonic Acid. Carbonic acid splits to form CO2 and H2O. The CO2 then diffuses from blood and enters alveoli.