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The Cardiovascular System

Haemoglobin, myoglobin and oxygen transport

  • 3 things to know
  • A2 2

Overview

Oxygen transport, haemoglobin and myoglobin, the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, the Bohr shift, the arterio-venous oxygen difference with a calculation, carbon monoxide and haemoglobin concentration.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is myoglobin, and why does oxygen pass from haemoglobin to myoglobin in working muscle?

Key term

How is oxygen transported in the blood?

Key term

What is haemoglobin?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How is oxygen transported in the blood?

    Model answer

    About 97% of oxygen is carried by haemoglobin in the red blood cells as oxyhaemoglobin. The remaining 3% or so is dissolved in the plasma.

  2. 2

    What is haemoglobin?

    Model answer

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

  3. 3

    Where does haemoglobin load and unload oxygen?

    Model answer

    Haemoglobin loads oxygen in the lungs, where the partial pressure of oxygen is high, forming oxyhaemoglobin. Oxyhaemoglobin releases its oxygen in the muscles, where the partial pressure is low.

  4. 4

    What is myoglobin, and where is it found?

    Model answer

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

  5. 5

    Why does oxygen pass from haemoglobin to myoglobin in a working muscle?

    Model answer

    Myoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen than haemoglobin. Oxygen released by the blood is therefore taken up by myoglobin in the muscle cell.

  6. 6

    How does myoglobin help a muscle at the start of exercise?

    Model answer

    Myoglobin releases its store of oxygen as oxygen levels in the muscle fall. The store supplies the mitochondria before delivery from the blood has increased.

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