There is a synergistic relationship between oxygen and carbon dioxide that facilitates their uptake and release in both the pulmonary and systemic capillaries?

Answer 1

Newly formed carbon dioxide is transported from the tissue cells to the lungs by the way of plasma and red blood cells. In the plasma, the carbamino compound, bicarbonate and dissolved CO2 are the main ways that carbon dioxide is transported in the plasma. The carbamino compound makes up about 1% of the CO2 dissolved in the plasma and chemically binds with amino proteins. The bicarbonate makes about 5% of the CO2 dissolved in the plasma and combines with water, a process known as hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of CO2 and water forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which ionizes into HCO3- and H+ ions. The dissolve carbon dioxide accounts for about 5% of the total CO2 released at the lungs. This is the portion of CO2 in the venous blood that is measured to assess the patients partial pressure of CO2 (Pco2). In the red blood cells the main ways carbon dioxide is transported through the body is by dissolved CO2, carbamino-Hb and bicarbonate. The dissolve carbon dioxide accounts for about 5% of the total CO2 released at the lungs. 21% of the carbon dioxide combines with hemoglobin to form a compound called carbamino-Hb. 63% of the carbon dioxide is transported from the tissue cells to the lungs in the form of bicarbonate (HCO3-). As the venous blood enters into the alveolar capillaries, chemical reactions are reversed. The bicarbonate is transformed back in to carbon dioxide and eliminated in the alveoli. The saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen determines the amount of carbon dioxide content. When blood is saturated with oxygen, it reduces the ability for it to carry carbon dioxide, and when the blood is deoxygenated increases the ability to carry carbon dioxide, this is known as the Haldane Effect. For example, if the hemoglobin was 75% saturated with oxygen, it will be 25% saturated with carbon dioxide. Another factor that can influence the uptake and release of oxygen and carbon dioxide would be an acid-base balance disturbance. The normal bicarbonate (HCO3-) to carbonic acid (H2CO3) ratio in the blood plasma is 20:1. This ratio of 20:1 is very important in maintaining a normal pH level. If this ratio was to change, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood would also change. Something like alveolar hypoventilation would cause the carbon dioxide levels to increase and that oxygen levels to decrease.