Question

How are oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Answer 1

Respiration:

It is the process through which energy is released inside the body by taking in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.

Transportation of oxygen:

1. In our body, 97% of the total oxygen is transported via the red blood cells and the rest 3% is transported by being dissolved in the plasma.
2. Hemoglobin binds with oxygen and transports it to various cells of the body.
3. After binding with oxygen, the hemoglobin forms a compound called oxyhemoglobin.
4. This oxygen mixed blood is then transported to all cells of the body.
5. When the blood gives away all the oxygen to the cells, it picks up the carbon dioxide from them and transports it back to the heart.

Transportation of carbon dioxide:

1. Carbon dioxide is primarily transported in the dissolved form because hemoglobin has very less affinity towards carbon dioxide.
2. In the dissolved form, carbon dioxide is given to the alveoli of the lungs, and oxygen is taken.
3. Hemoglobin carries 20-25% of carbon dioxide as carbamino-hemoglobin.
4. 70% of the carbon dioxide is transported in the form of bicarbonate ions and the rest 7% is in the dissolved state through plasma.
5. The binding of carbon dioxide or oxygen with hemoglobin is due to their partial pressure.
6. The pCO₂ is high at tissue the level thus carbamino-hemoglobin is formed and pO₂ is high at the alveolar level thus oxyhemoglobin is formed.