Answer:
Oxygen is transported in the blood in two ways: dissolved in plasma and bound to hemoglobin.
Explanation:
* Dissolved oxygen: Only a small amount of oxygen is transported in this way, about 2-3%. This is because oxygen is not very soluble in water.
* Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that binds to oxygen. Each hemoglobin molecule can bind to four oxygen molecules. When hemoglobin binds to oxygen, it forms oxyhemoglobin. Oxyhemoglobin is bright red, which is why arterial blood is bright red.
When hemoglobin reaches the tissues, it releases oxygen. This is because the tissues have a lower partial pressure of oxygen than the blood. The partial pressure of oxygen is the pressure exerted by oxygen in a gas mixture. The lower partial pressure of oxygen in the tissues causes hemoglobin to release oxygen.
The released oxygen is then used by the tissues for cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the process by which cells produce energy. Oxygen is used in cellular respiration to convert glucose into carbon dioxide and water. The energy produced by cellular respiration is used by the cells to carry out their functions
