What is the primary function of hemoglobin?

What is the primary function of hemoglobin?

• A. To regulate blood pressure
• B. To pick up oxygen in the lungs and carry it to the tissues
• C. To fight infection
• D. To transport carbon dioxide to the lungs

Answer: (B)

Hemoglobin’s main job is to move oxygen from the lungs to the tissues that need it for energy production. It has four heme groups with iron that reversibly bind oxygen. In the lungs, high oxygen levels enable hemoglobin to load O2, forming oxyhemoglobin, and travel through the bloodstream to tissues. There, the oxygen is released into cells where it’s used for cellular respiration, especially in mitochondria. Hemoglobin also helps remove some carbon dioxide by binding CO2 and returning it to the lungs, but this role is secondary to oxygen transport. The other functions listed aren’t the primary purpose of hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin’s main job is to move oxygen from the lungs to the tissues that need it for energy production. It has four heme groups with iron that reversibly bind oxygen. In the lungs, high oxygen levels enable hemoglobin to load O2, forming oxyhemoglobin, and travel through the bloodstream to tissues. There, the oxygen is released into cells where it’s used for cellular respiration, especially in mitochondria. Hemoglobin also helps remove some carbon dioxide by binding CO2 and returning it to the lungs, but this role is secondary to oxygen transport. The other functions listed aren’t the primary purpose of hemoglobin.