2.3.2 CO₂– transport

CO₂ is transported by the blood in three ways (Fig. 12):

•  dissolved in plasma
•  bound to haemoglobin (Hb)
•  in the form of bicarbonate (HCO₃-)

7-10% of CO₂ is transported dissolved in the plasma, 20% of the CO₂ is transported bound to Hb and the remainder as bicarbonate.

Fig. 12