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- Jun 13, 2004
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I've always been confused about something about gas exchange. If anyone wants to take a crack at it much appreciated.
It's probably better for me to first consider the gas exchange at hard working tissue. The CO2 generated combines with H2O in the RBC --> H2CO3 --> H+ + HCO3- . All the texts all say that this increases H+ conc. thus lowering blood pH.
My confusion stems from the fact that H+ binds Hb (or other proteins); stabilizing the tense conformation in Hb. Meanwhile, HCO3- is exchanged into the plasma for CL-. I don't understand why this doesn't raise blood pH. The H+ remains bound to the Hb while the HCO3- is free to "soak up" plasma H+'s.
Thanks, for any help.
It's probably better for me to first consider the gas exchange at hard working tissue. The CO2 generated combines with H2O in the RBC --> H2CO3 --> H+ + HCO3- . All the texts all say that this increases H+ conc. thus lowering blood pH.
My confusion stems from the fact that H+ binds Hb (or other proteins); stabilizing the tense conformation in Hb. Meanwhile, HCO3- is exchanged into the plasma for CL-. I don't understand why this doesn't raise blood pH. The H+ remains bound to the Hb while the HCO3- is free to "soak up" plasma H+'s.
Thanks, for any help.