You are on day three of a hiking/camping trip to the summit of Mt. Robson in B.C

Question

You are on day three of a hiking/camping trip to the summit of Mt. Robson in B.C. Which physiological adaptation has occurred to help your body function more efficiently at this high altitude Your 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG) levels have increased to favour the taut (T) state of hemoglobin, so that it can deliver oxygen to the tissues more efficiently. Your 2,3-BPG levels have decreased to enhance the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin, so that the lungs are better able to pick up oxygen at high altitude. The pH of your blood has increased to 7.8, which favors formation of deoxyhemoglobin O Your erythrocytes have increased the synthesis of hemoglobin, so that more oxygen can be carried in the blood. Hemoglobin has dissociated to monomers (i.e. resembling myoglobin), as these have higher affinity for oxygen.

Explanation / Answer

At high altitude atmospheric pressure will be low in compsrison to sea level. Beacuse of that the oxygen saturation in blood decreases. To over come this problem our body produces 30-40% extra red blood cells in 3-4 days with help of erthropoitin. After that oxygen supply in through blood increases and saturates muscles

2-3BPG helps in maintaining the unbound oxygen and haemoglobin ratio. But it will not saturate the body with oxygen.

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