Question

What happens in Hamburger shift?

• A. $HC{O}_3^{-}$ions move out to plasma and $C{l}^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• B. $C{O}_3^{-}$ions move out from plasma and $C{l}^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• C. $H^{+}$ions move out from plasma and $C{l}^{-}$ions enters into $RBC$
• D. $HC{O}_3$ ions move out from plasma and $H^{+}$ions enters into $RBC$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$C{O}_2+H_{2}O\stackrel{\text{ Carbonic Anhydrase }}{\to }{H}_{2}C{O}_3\rightleftharpoons HC{O}_3^{-}+H^{+}$
To maintain the neutrality of the plasma, $HC{O}_3^{-}$ions diffuses out into the plasma and $C{l}^{-}$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.