Question

Hamburger shift is also known as

• A. Bicarbonate shift
• B. Chloride shift
• C. Potassium shift
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Chloride shift

The exchange of bicarbonate ions of RBCs and chloride ions of plasma is called the Hamburger shift or chloride shift. Blood carries much of the carbon dioxide in its bicarbonate form. The capacity of blood to carry carbon dioxide as bicarbonate is enhanced by an ion transport system inside the red blood cell membrane. This system simultaneously moves a bicarbonate ion out of the red blood cell and into the plasma in exchange for a chloride ion. The simultaneous exchange of these two ions, known as the chloride shift, permits the plasma to be used as a storage site for bicarbonate without changing the electrical charge of either the plasma or the red blood cell.