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The Cardiovascular System

Oxygen transport, the Bohr shift and the a-VO₂ difference

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

Haemoglobin and myoglobin, the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, the Bohr shift and its causes, the a-VO₂ diff with a worked example, and training adaptations that raise oxygen delivery.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the a-VO₂ diff, and how does it change from rest to exercise?

Key term

How is most oxygen carried in the blood?

Key term

Where is haemoglobin found, and how much oxygen can one molecule carry?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How is most oxygen carried in the blood?

    Model answer

    Haemoglobin carries about 97% of oxygen as oxyhaemoglobin. Blood plasma carries the remaining 3% or so in solution.

  2. 2

    Where is haemoglobin found, and how much oxygen can one molecule carry?

    Model answer

    Haemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in red blood cells. Each haemoglobin molecule can carry four oxygen molecules.

  3. 3

    What is myoglobin?

    Model answer

    Myoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in muscle fibres, especially slow twitch fibres. Myoglobin stores oxygen and carries it to the mitochondria.

  4. 4

    Why can myoglobin take oxygen from haemoglobin at the muscles?

    Model answer

    Myoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen than haemoglobin. Oxygen therefore passes from the blood into the muscle fibre, even at low partial pressures.

  5. 5

    Describe the shape of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve.

    Model answer

    The curve is S-shaped, or sigmoid. Saturation rises steeply at low partial pressures of oxygen, then levels off near 100% at high partial pressures.

  6. 6

    What does the dissociation curve show about haemoglobin at the lungs?

    Model answer

    The partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs is high. Haemoglobin becomes almost fully saturated with oxygen at the lungs.

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