Chloride shift

Chloride Shift

The Chloride Shift (pronounced: klor-ide shift), also known as the Hamburger Shift or Hamburger Phenomenon, is a physiological process occurring in the blood.

Etymology

The term "Chloride Shift" is derived from the involvement of chloride ions in the process. The term "Hamburger Shift" is named after the physiologist Hartog Jakob Hamburger, who first described the phenomenon.

Definition

The Chloride Shift is a process that occurs in the red blood cells (RBCs) where bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) are exchanged for chloride ions (Cl-) across the RBC membrane. This process is crucial for the transport of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the tissues to the lungs.

Process

When carbon dioxide enters the red blood cells, it combines with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic acid then dissociates into a bicarbonate ion and a hydrogen ion (H+). The bicarbonate ion is transported out of the red blood cell in exchange for a chloride ion, a process facilitated by the band 3 protein, an anion exchange protein. This exchange of ions is the Chloride Shift.

Significance

The Chloride Shift is essential for maintaining the acid-base balance in the blood and for the efficient transport and removal of carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, from the body.

Related Terms

• Carbonic Anhydrase
• Acid-Base Balance
• Red Blood Cells
• Carbon Dioxide Transport

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Chloride shift
• Wikipedia's article - Chloride shift

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