VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

As physically dissolved CO2

PHYSICALLY DISSOLVED CO₂

• Compared with O₂, CO₂ is 24 times more soluble in blood plasma. Only about 5 – 7 % of total CO₂ carried by blood is in a simple physical solution.
• The factors that determine the transport are the partial pressure of CO₂ (Henry’s law) and temperature.
• Both plasma and cells can transport CO₂ in a physically dissolved state. (The solubility factor per litre for CO₂ at 38⁰C is 0.03 for plasma and 0.025 for cells).