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Chapter 7: Q6CP (page 200)

Describe how myoglobin and hemoglobin function in delivering O2 from the lungs to respiring tissues.

Short Answer

Expert verified

From the lung, hemoglobin transports oxygen to the respiring tissue and transfers the oxygen to myoglobin. Then myoglobin facilitates the diffusion of oxygen to the respiring tissues.

Step by step solution

01

Oxygen transport by hemoglobin 

The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the lung is very high. This situation allows deoxyhemoglobin to completely bind with oxygen (four oxygen per deoxyhemoglobin molecule).

However, the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the respiratory tissue is very low. This situation allows the oxyhemoglobin to release the O2 attached and transfers the oxygen to myoglobin.

02

Oxygen diffusion by myoglobin 

Myoglobin increases the effective solubility of oxygen in the muscle, thus boosting the oxygen diffusion rate.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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