Carbon Monoxide Case Study Flashcards
Describe the protein hemoglobin and its function in transport of gasses (oxygen and carbon dioxide) in the body.
Hemoglobin is a protein that is composed of two parts: heme and globin. The heme portion is used to transport O2 and the globin transports CO2. Each heme can carry up to 4 O2 molecules. The hemoglobin is a part of red blood cells and plays a huge role in oxygenating the blood.
Provide at least five signs or symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Headache, dizzy, disorientated, nausea, unconsciousness, chest pain (also other people you live with showing similar symptoms)
Describe how a change in pH will affect the binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.
When the pH decreases (becomes more acidic), hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen decreases as it picks up more hydrogen ions.
Describe how a change in the partial pressure of CO2 will affect the binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.
As the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, hemoglobin loses some of it’s affinity for oxygen.
Describe how a change in temperature will affect the binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.
when temperature increases, the affinity for oxygen to hemoglobin decreases because a higher temperature often means cells are working harder. When they are working more, they require more oxygen to perform their functions so hemoglobin detaches from oxygen molecules at the tissues.
What route does carbon monoxide take to enter the body?
CO enters the body via the process of external respiration. It binds to hemoglobin in your pulmonary capillaries and is transported throughout your body and to your tissues in your bloodstream.
In respect to hemoglobin, how would you suspect that carbon monoxide leads to hypoxic tissue injuries and eventually death?
If CO is binding to the hemoglobin instead of O2 then your tissues are being deprives of oxygen that is essential to their functioning and with prolonged exposure to CO, the amount of CO in your bloodstream will just keep growing and without the sufficient amount of oxygen needed to perform necessary functions, you will basically suffocate from the inside out.
Does it appear the cadavers used in the experiment absorbed any carbon monoxide? Explain your rationale.
Based on the fact that their bodies didn’t change color, it would be reasonable to predict that they did not absorb any CO.
If homoglobin is 75% saturated with Oxygen, how many O2 molecules would be bound? I want you to think back to lecture and think about the max number of O2 that CAN bind to hemoglobin in the first place.
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Why does Carbon Monoxide (CO) cause hypoxia (a lack of O2)?
CO binds to heme blocking O2 from binding
