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Previous Volume 338:239-248 January 22, 1998 Number 4 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Hemoglobin is essential for oxygen transport, and the study of its structure and function has led to numerous discoveries that have shaped modern biologic science.¹ This review will examine how hemoglobin actively regulates oxygen transport and will illustrate the clinical and physiologic importance of this regulation.

Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve

The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve describes the relation between the oxygen saturation or content of hemoglobin and the oxygen tension at equilibrium. Bohr^2,3 first showed that the dissociation curve was sigmoid-shaped, leading Hill⁴ to postulate that there were multiple oxygen-binding sites on hemoglobin and to derive an empirical approximation of the relation:

(oxygen tension / . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Hydrogen Ion and Oxygen–Carbon Dioxide Coupling

Red-Cell 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate

Effect of Temperature

Binding of Nitric Oxide

Clinical Importance of Hemoglobin Function

Optimal P₅₀

Exercise at Sea Level

Adaptation to High Altitude

Sickle Cell Anemia

Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Acid–Base Disturbances

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235-9034, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Hsia.

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