2.

3 Transport
The metabolic demands of many organisms
Require that the blood transport large quantities
of O2 and CO2

Respiratory pigments
Are proteins that transport oxygen
Greatly increase the amount of oxygen that blood
can carry
Is the protein hemoglobin, contained in the
erythrocytes

 Like all respiratory pigments

Hemoglobin must reversibly bind O2, loading
O2 in the lungs and unloading it in other parts
of the body

Heme group

Iron atom

O2 loaded
in lungs
O2 unloaded
In tissues

Figure 42.28

Polypeptide chain

O2

O2

 Loading and unloading of O2

Depend on cooperation between the subunits
of the hemoglobin molecule

The binding of O2 to one subunit induces

the other subunits to bind O2 with more
affinity
Cooperative O2 binding and release
Is evident in the dissociation curve for
hemoglobin

A drop in pH
Lowers the affinity of hemoglobin for O2

O2 saturation of hemoglobin (%)

(a) PO2 and Hemoglobin Dissociation at 37C and pH 7.4

O2 unloaded from
hemoglobin
during normal
metabolism

100
80

O2 reserve that can

be unloaded from
hemoglobin to
tissues with high
metabolism

60
40
20
0

20

40

60

Tissues during Tissues

at rest
exercise

80 100
Lungs

(b) pH and Hemoglobin Dissociation

Figure 42.29a, b

O2 saturation of hemoglobin (%)

PO2 (mm Hg)

100
pH 7.4

80
60

pH 7.2

40
20
0

20

40

Bohr shift:
Additional O2
released from
hemoglobin at
lower pH
(higher CO2
concentration)

60

PO2 (mm Hg)

80 100

Carbon Dioxide Transport

Hemoglobin also helps transport CO2
And assists in buffering

Carbon from respiring cells

Diffuses into the blood plasma and then into
erythrocytes and is ultimately released in the lungs

Carbon dioxide produced by

body tissues diffuses into the
interstitial fluid and the plasma.
Over 90% of the CO2 diffuses
into red blood cells, leaving only 7%
in the plasma as dissolved CO2.

Tissue cell

Some CO2 is picked up and

transported by hemoglobin.

1
Blood plasma CO2
within capillary

Capillary
wall

2
CO2
Red
blood
cell

H2CO3
Carbonic acid Hb

5
+ H+
Bicarbonate

However, most CO2 reacts with water

in red blood cells, forming carbonic
acid (H2CO3), a reaction catalyzed by
carbonic anhydrase contained. Within
red blood cells.

Carbonic acid dissociates into a

biocarbonate ion (HCO3) and a
hydrogen ion (H+).

Hemoglobin binds most of the

H+ from H2CO3 preventing the H+
from acidifying the blood and thus
preventing the Bohr shift.

Figure 42.30

In the HCO3 diffuse

from the plasma red blood cells,
combining with H+ released from
hemoglobin and forming H2CO3.

Carbonic acid is converted back

into CO2 and water.

10

CO2 formed from H2CO3 is unloaded

from hemoglobin and diffuses into the
interstitial fluid.

HCO3

To lungs

CO2 transport
to lungs

HCO3

H2CO3

H2O

Hb

11 CO2
Hemoglobin
releases
CO2 and H+

CO2

Hemoglobin
picks up
CO2 and H+

HCO3 + H+

Most of the HCO3 diffuse

into the plasma where it is
carried in the bloodstream to
the lungs.

HCO3

Interstitial CO
2
fluid

H2O

CO2 transport
from tissues

CO2 produced

CO2

CO2 10
CO2 11
Alveolar space in lung

diffuses into the alveolar

space, from which it is expelled
during exhalation. The reduction
of CO2 concentration in the plasma
drives the breakdown of H2CO3
Into CO2 and water in the red blood
cells (see step 9), a reversal of the
reaction that occurs in the tissues
(see step 4).

Fluid Return by the Lymphatic

System
The lymphatic system
Returns fluid to the body from the capillary
beds
Aids in body defense

Fluid reenters the circulation

Directly at the venous end of the capillary bed
and indirectly through the lymphatic system

 The lymphatic system

Plays an active role in defending the body from
pathogens

1 Interstitial fluid bathing the

tissues, along with the white
blood cells in it, continually
enters lymphatic capillaries.
Interstitial
fluid

Adenoid

Lymphatic
capillary
Fluid inside the
2
lymphatic capillaries,
called lymph, flows
through lymphatic
vessels throughout
the body.

Tonsil
4 Lymphatic vessels
return lymph to the
blood via two large
ducts that drain into
veins near the
shoulders.

Lymph
nodes

Spleen
Peyers patches
(small intestine)

Blood
capillary
Tissue
cells

Lymphatic
vessel

Lymphatic
vessels

Figure 43.5

Within lymph nodes,

microbes and foreign
particles present in
the circulating lymph
encounter macrophages, dendritic cells,
and lymphocytes,
which carry out
various defensive
actions.

Appendix

Lymph
node

Masses of
lymphocytes and
macrophages