1.

The CO2 dissociation curve for whole blood shows that A. Its shape is sigmoid. B. Blood saturates with CO2 when PCO2 exceeds normal alveolar levels. C. Blood contains some CO2 even when the PCO2 is zero. D. Oxygenation of the blood drives CO2 out of the blood. E. Adding CO2 to the blood drives O2 out of the blood. 

Answer»

A. False The curves start and finish differently. The CO2 curve has a steep initial slope which gradually decreases, but there is no plateau. It is the O2 curve which is sigmoid in shape. 

B. False Content continues to rise as PCO2 rises above normal alveolar levels. 

C. False CO2 content is zero when PCO2 is zero. 

D. True Oxyhaemoglobin is a stronger acid than reduced haemoglobin; the liberated H+. ions drive the reaction H+ + HCO3- → H2CO3 → CO2H2O. 

E. False This is shown by the oxygen dissociation curve, not the carbon dioxide dissociation curve.



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