As a subject matter expert in biology, I can explain that carbon dioxide is transported in the blood primarily through three different mechanisms:


1. Dissolved CO2: Some of the carbon dioxide is dissolved directly in the plasma, which is the liquid component of the blood.

2. Bicarbonate (HCO3-): The majority of CO2 is transported as bicarbonate ions. This process involves the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which facilitates the conversion of CO2 and water into carbonic acid (H2CO3), which then dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).

3. Carbaminohemoglobin: A smaller portion of CO2 binds to the amino groups of hemoglobin, forming a compound known as carbaminohemoglobin.

These mechanisms are crucial for maintaining the acid-base balance in the body and ensuring that CO2, a waste product of cellular respiration, is efficiently transported from the tissues to the lungs for exhalation.

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Carbon dioxide is transported in the blood from the tissue to the lungs in three ways:1 (i) dissolved in solution; (ii) buffered with water as carbonic acid; (iii) bound to proteins, particularly haemoglobin. Approximately 75% of carbon dioxide is transport in the red blood cell and 25% in the plasma.read more >>