Breathing and Exchange of Gases Question 27
27. The process of migration of chloride ions from plasma to RBC and of carbonate ions from $RBC$ to plasma is
(a) chloride shift
(b) ionic shift
(c) atomic shift
(d) $Na+$ pump
Show Answer
Answer : a
Hints & Solution
(a) During the transport of $CO_2$ through the blood, bicarbonate ions diffuse out of RBCs while chloride ions from plasma enter the $RBCs$ to maintain ionic equilibrium. This is called chloride shift.
