Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport (CIE A-level PE)

This engaging lesson looks at the role of haemoglobin in transporting oxygen as well as the different ways that carbon dioxide is transported around the body. The detailed PowerPoint has been designed to cover the 5th point in section A10 of the CIE International A-level PE specification.

The lesson begins with a version of the quiz show Pointless to introduce haemotology as the study of the blood conditions. Students will learn that haemoglobin is a protein made of 4 polypeptide chains and that it is the haem group found on each of these chains which has a high affinity for oxygen. Time is taken to discuss how haemoglobin must be able to load (and unload) oxygen as well as transport the oxygen to the cells of the working muscles so that they can continue to produce energy by the aerobic system. Students will plot the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve so they can understand about the unloading aspect of the role.
The remainder of the lesson looks at the different ways that carbon dioxide is transported around the body and students will learn that the dissociation of carbonic acid into hydrogen ions affects the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen so that the Bohr effect can be explained.