Question

Most of the HCO3- formed inside a red blood cell in systemic capillaries exits the cell when that cell arrives at the pulmonary capillaries.

A. True

B. False

Answer 1

True.

Most bicarbonate is produced in erythrocytes after carbon dioxide diffuses into the capillaries, and subsequently into red blood cells.

Carbonic anhydrase is tends to form carbonic acid from Co2 and water. Then carbonic acid produces H+ and Bicarbonate ions.

Bicarbonates tends to build up in the erythrocytes, so that there is a greater concentration of bicarbonate in the erythrocytes than in the surrounding blood plasma.

At the pulmonary capillaries chemical reaction that produced bicarbonate can be reversed and it forms Co2 and water.