Describe the transport of oxygen in the blood and the significance of hemoglobin in oxygen transport
Describe the transport of oxygen in the blood and the significance of hemoglobin in oxygen transport.
The oxygen taken by the environment is sent to bronchial tree, reaching alveolar sac. From here, it crosses the alveolar membrane and the capillary endothelium. Then it enters the blood stream. Now, oxygen needs to be transported to various tissues from the blood. Since oxygen is poorly soluble in blood, there is a requirement of a delivery system to ensure that sufficient oxygen is transported to the tissues where its required.
TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN- Every active tissue requires oxygen. Almost all the tissues are supplied by oxygen from blood.
As soon as the oxygen enters the blood vessels from the lungs, its taken up by hemoglobin molecule in the red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein molecule made up of four heme groups containing iron ions. These iron ions (Fe+2) react chemically with oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin.
Each molecule of hemoglobin can hold four oxygen molecules. Oxygen is poorly dissolved in blood so only a tiny amount is transported dissolved in the plasma. The majority of the oxygen is transported in form of bound hemoglobin as oxyhemoglobin.
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