Henry's law pointed out that the oxygen solubility is very low. This means that only small amounts of oxygen are dissolved in the plasma. Consequently, about 98% of the oxygen in the blood must be transported within plasma where it attaches to the protein within hemoglobin molecules. Oxygen bound to hemoglobin is referred to as Oxyhemoglobin . Hemoglobin without bound oxygen is called Methemoglobin (metHb) or Ferrihemoglobin .

Explanation:

Oxygen is carried in the blood in two forms: (1) dissolved in and RBC water (about 2% of the total) and (2) reversibly bound to hemoglobin (about 98% of the total). At physiological PO2 (40 < PO2 < 100 mm Hg), only a small amount of oxygen is dissolved in plasma since oxygen has such a low solubility.

The plasma is the intravascular fluid comprised of water, dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, electrolytes, hormones, and carbon dioxide. Blood volume pertains to the volume of blood in the circulatory system. In general, the blood volume of an adult is about five liters.

Oxygen is transported in the blood in two ways: A small amount of O 2 (1.5 percent) is carried in the plasma as a dissolved gas. Most oxygen (98.5 percent) carried in the blood is bound to the protein hemoglobin in red blood cells. A fully saturated oxyhemoglobin (HbO 2) has four O 2 molecules attached.

The hemoglobin is then called methemoglobin (metHb) or ferrihemoglobin (Fe+3 will not bind oxygen). Ordinarily, about 1% of the hemoglobin in a red blood cell is in this form.

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