HUMAN FETUS

• WHAT DO HUMAN FETUS HAVE INSTEAD OF ADULT HAEMOGLOBIN?

  myoglobin or fetal haemoglobin
• HOW ARE MYOGLOBIN AND FETAL HAEMOGLOBIN DIFFERENT FROM ADULT HAEMOGLOBIN?

  have higher affinity for oxygen (curve shifted left)
• WHAT DO MYOGLOBIN AND FETAL HAEMOGLOBIN ALLOW FOR?

  as blood circulates through umbilical cord, fetal haemoglobin can load oxygen off of mother's adult haemoglobin
• COMPARISON BETWEEN HUMAN ADULT AND FETAL HAEMOGLOBIN?

  • fetal haemoglobin has higher affinity for oxygen than adult haemoglobin
  • fetal haemoglobin loads oxygen in the placenta, where oxygen partial pressure is low
  • adult haemoglobin unloads oxygen