MICROANATOMY

BLOOD CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM LYMPHOID ORGANS

BLOOD

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?
A
binds to hemoglobin instead of oxygen
B
causes sickle cell
C
leads to a low platelet count
D
leads to a low red blood cell count
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -When carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, less oxygen gets transported to body tissues and vital organs such as the brain and heart. The bond between carbon monoxide and hemoglobin is approximately 250 times stronger than the bond between oxygen and hemoglobin.

Detailed explanation-2: -Carbon Monoxide The binding of one CO molecule to hemoglobin increases the affinity of the other binding spots for oxygen, leading to a left shift in the dissociation curve. This shift prevents oxygen unloading in peripheral tissue and therefore the oxygen concentration of the tissue is much lower than normal.

Detailed explanation-3: -Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin at any or all of the oxygen-binding sites of hemoglobin, and also acts to increase the stability of the bond between hemoglobin and oxygen, reducing the ability of the hemoglobin molecule to release oxygen bound to other oxygen-binding sites.

Detailed explanation-4: -Carbon monoxide has 210 times greater affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen1. A small environmental concentration will thus cause toxic levels of carboxyhaemoglobin.

Detailed explanation-5: -While carbon dioxide can readily associate and dissociate from hemoglobin, other molecules such as carbon monoxide (CO) cannot. Carbon monoxide has a greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen. Therefore, when carbon monoxide is present, it binds to hemoglobin preferentially over oxygen.

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