Hemoglobin Buffer System

Question 1

Features of red blood cells

Answer 1

1. Contain 5.5% of the ICF
2. Are normally suspended in the plasma
3. Are densely packed with hemoglobin
4. Their cytoplasm contains large amounts of carbonic anhydrase

Question 2

Red blood cells have a significant effect on the pH of the ECF

Answer 2

Because they absorb carbon dioxide from the plasma and convert it to carbonic acid

Question 3

Chloride shift

Answer 3

After carbon dioxide diffuse across the red blood cell membrane the carbonic acid dissociates within the red blood cell, the bicarbonate ions diffuse into the plasma in exchange for chloride ion

Question 4

Hemoglobin molecules buffer

Answer 4

The hydrogen ions

Question 5

The hemoglobin buffer system is the only intra-cellular buffer system that can have an immediate effect on the pH of

Answer 5

The ECF

Question 6

The hemoglobin buffer system helps prevent drastic changes in pH when

Answer 6

The plasma P CO2 is increasing or decreasing