Haemoglobin buffer system
- Inside the erythrocyte, CO2 combines with water to form H2CO3 under the action of carbonic anhydrase enzyme.
HbO2 ⇌ Hb– + O2 —i)
Hb + H2CO3 ⇌ HHb + HCO3 – ii)
HHB + O2 ⇌ HHbO2
HHbO2 ⇌ HbO2 + H +
HCO3 + H+ ⇌ H2CO3
H2CO3 ⇌ H2O + CO2