Which percentage of carbon dioxide is carried in the blood bound to hemoglobin?

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Multiple Choice

Which percentage of carbon dioxide is carried in the blood bound to hemoglobin?

CO2 travels in the blood in three forms, and the portion that binds to hemoglobin is the carbaminohemoglobin form. This binding occurs at the amino-terminal ends of the globin chains and is reversible, releasing CO2 in the lungs for exhalation. That bound form accounts for about 23% of CO2 transport. The rest is carried as bicarbonate ions in plasma (about 70%) after CO2 is converted to HCO3− inside red blood cells, and a smaller amount remains dissolved in plasma (about 7%). This distribution explains why CO2 is efficiently moved from tissues to the lungs and how binding to hemoglobin also helps facilitate oxygen delivery to tissues.

CO2 travels in the blood in three forms, and the portion that binds to hemoglobin is the carbaminohemoglobin form. This binding occurs at the amino-terminal ends of the globin chains and is reversible, releasing CO2 in the lungs for exhalation. That bound form accounts for about 23% of CO2 transport. The rest is carried as bicarbonate ions in plasma (about 70%) after CO2 is converted to HCO3− inside red blood cells, and a smaller amount remains dissolved in plasma (about 7%). This distribution explains why CO2 is efficiently moved from tissues to the lungs and how binding to hemoglobin also helps facilitate oxygen delivery to tissues.

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