Chapter 23, Problem 27CP

Summary Introduction

To define:

The reason that the peripheral chemoreceptors are more or less sensitive to the level of carbon dioxide than they are to the level of oxygen.

Introduction:

The red blood cells have the membrane channels for transporting the hydrogen ions and the bicarbonate ions in the red blood cells. The peripheral chemo receptors sense the changes in the oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH values in the blood. The increase in carbon dioxide leads to the formation of bicarbonate ions, which increase the concentration of hydrogen ions. This decreases the pH of blood.