Question

What happens in Hamburger shift?

• A. $HCO _{3}^{-}$ions move out to plasma and $Cl ^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• B. $CO _{3}^{-}$ions move out from plasma and $Cl ^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• C. $H ^{+}$ions move out from plasma and $Cl ^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• D. $HCO _{3}$ ions move out from plasma and $H ^{+}$ions enters into $RBC$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$CO _{2}+ H _{2} O\xrightarrow{\text { Carbonic Anhydrase }}H _{2} CO _{3} \rightleftharpoons HCO _{3}^{-}+ H ^{+}$
To maintain the neutrality of the plasma, $HCO _{3}^{-}$ions diffuses out into the plasma and $Cl ^{-}$ions enter into the $RBC$. The chloride content of the RBCs increases when oxygenated blood becomes deoxygenated. This is known as Hamburger shift or chloride shift.