Below is the hemoglobin saturation curve. 1.) In your own words what is the adva

Question

Below is the hemoglobin saturation curve.

1.) In your own words what is the advantage of the hemoglobin saturation curve being sigmoidal rather than linear (4 points total, breakdown is below)

a.) What is the advantage to the flat part of the curve (between PO2 of 80 and 120 mmHg) (said otherwise, what if this were not flat over this range of values, but instead was only flat for a smaller range of PO2 values)? Be sure to explain the physiology taking place in the body. (2 points)

b.) What is the advantage to the steep part of the curve (between PO2 of 25 and 40mmHg)? Be sure to explain the physiology taking place in the body (2 points)

2.) Prior to diving into a swimming pool you deliberately hyperventilate for several minutes before diving into the pool. Shortly after you enter the water and begin swimming, you black out and almost drown.

a.) What is hyperventilation?

b.) What changes to CO2 and/or O2 occurred during this time? Which change is the body most sensitive to, both, CO2 or O2?

c.) What is an appropriate response to these changes (said another way: if the person had been on land, what could the body do to respond to the changes?

3.) For regulation of breathing, what aspect is considered the integrating center, sensor, effector, target cell(s) for breathing?

Explanation / Answer

Answer 1) The oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve relates partial pressure of oxygen in blood (PO2) and oxygen saturation (SO2). It is determined by haemoglobin affinity for oxygen which is how readily haemoglobin releases and acquires molecules of oxygen into surrounding fluid. The advantage of this curve is that it is an important tool for acquiring knowledge about how our blood releases and carries oxygen

a)1)The advantage of the flat part of the curve is that it helps to indicate that a fair amount of oxygen at the lungs can be loaded by haemoglobin even after the diffusion issue.

2) This process enhances the diffusion of oxygen as it maintains the pressure gradient.

b) 1)The advantage of the steep part of the curve is that the diffusion of oxygen from haemoglobin to tissue cells is enhanced with this process.

Answer 2) a) Hyperventilation is a situation in which there is rapid or deep breathing. It is a breathing in excess of what our body needs. It can cause various health problems.

b) The change that the body is most sensitive to is carbon dioxide. Hypoventilation causes an increased concentration of CO2.

c) The response to these changes if the person had been on land would be same as in water. Since hyperventilation is not only water based. Hyperventilation can be caused from heart failure,stress and anxiety, panic disorder etc.

Answer 3) For regulation of breathing, the integrating center or the control center which is called the medulla is considered. Medulla detects the levels of both CO2 and O2 .

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