BOHR EFFECT

• WHAT IS THE BOHR EFFECT?

  high carbon dioxide concentration causes oxyhaemoglobin curve to shift to the right
• WHY DOES THE OXYHAEMOGLOBIN CURVE SHIFT TO THE RIGHT WHEN CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION INCREASES?

  affinity for oxygen decreases as the acidic carbon dioxide slightly changes haemoglobin shape
• WHAT DIRECTION DOES THE CURVE SHIFT WHEN AFFINITY FOR OXYGEN DECREASES?

  right
• WHAT DIRECTION DOES THE CURVE SHIFT WHEN AFFINITY FOR OXYGEN INCREASES?

  left
• WHERE IS AN AREA WITH A LOW PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE?

  alveoli
• WHAT HAPPENS IN A LOW PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE?

  • curve shifts left
  • increases affinity for oxygen
  • loads more oxygen
• WHERE IS AN AREA WITH A HIGH PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE?

  respiring tissues
• WHAT HAPPENS IN A HIGH PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE?

  • curve shifts right
  • decreases affinity for oxygen
  • unloads more oxygen
• HOW DOES CO2 CAUSE HAEMOGLOBIN TO CHANGE SHAPE?

  • CO2 dissolves in water to make carbonic acid (H2CO3)
  • dissociates into H+ and HCO3-
  • H+ decreases pH
  • tertiary structure of haemoglobin changes
  • oxyhaemoglobin dissociates into oxygen and haemoglobin due to decreased affinity for oxygen
  • haemoglobin binds to H+ to form haemoglobinic acid which acts as a buffer to the effect of H+
  • lone oxygen molecules lead to more aerobic respiration
• NAME FOR WHEN THE CURVE SHIFTS TO THE RIGHT/ AFFINITY FOR OXYGEN DECREASES?

  Bohr shift