Sunday, May 12, 2013

Oxygen - hemoglobin dissociation curve mnemonic

Hi everyone!
What is oxygen - haemoglobin dissociation curve or oxygen binding curve?
The oxygen - haemoglobin dissociation curve plots the proportion of haemoglobin in its saturated form on the vertical axis (fractional saturation of hemoglobin) against the prevailing oxygen tension on the horizontal axis.

What does it tell?
It tells you the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

How does it do that?
It's simple!
If the curve shifts towards the right, hemoglobin has decreased affinity for oxygen.
If the curve shifts towards the left, hemoglobin has increased affinity for oxygen.

How do I remember the shift in curves?
Remember: Left shifted curve doesn't want to leave oxygen.

Factors causing:
Decreased 2,3-BPG
Alkalosis
Fetal hemoglobin
Hypothermia
CO
Methemoglobin

Remember: Right shifted curve gives oxygen right out.
Factors causing:
Acidosis
CO2
Increased 2,3-BPG
Temperature
Exercise
Mnemonic: Right A CITE

That's all!

There is another mnemonic "CADET, face right" but I always forget which direction the cadet faces; 2,3-BPG increases or decreases, blah blah blah..
So I made the mnemonics at 4pm on an idle Tuesday =D
The rhyming words, "rite, cite" and "left doesn't leave" helped me a lot and I hope it helps you too!

Have a good day :)
-IkaN

Wanna reblog? Here's the link to the tumblr post!

15 comments:

  1. Very informative blogging, keep it up!

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  2. Left/Load O2
    Right/Rid out O2

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing this mnemonic with us :)

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    2. Thank you so much for ur hard work. I am a medical technologist and i used your Blog to study for my ASCP licence . I wish u can add more Microbiology Mnemonics and some clinical Chemistry analysis ... God bless...

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    3. Hi Hamid.. You could contribute the microbiology and clinical chemistry yourself so that others can read, I'll add it to the blog! ^_^
      Thank you so much for the complements and I am glad it helped :)

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    4. Good and simple

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  3. The way I remember the CADET face Right is everything in CADET is increased. Increased :CO2, Acid (i.e. decrease in pH), 2,3-DPG, Exercise, Temp. The word "right" means a right shift in the curve.

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    Replies
    1. I had this mnemonic too but I started wondering where does the cadet face.. Right or left? Why not left? And bam! Got confused.

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    2. I can see the confusion there. I guess it might have to do with military experience. You usually face right to start your march and/or run. Also "cadet" and "right" both have five letter. Maybe that works?

      P.S. -- I LOVE YOUR SITE!!!!

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    3. Haha yes. Right always comes first, and the 5 letter thing helps too!

      THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

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  4. You are doing a very good job..be awesome!! ��

    ReplyDelete

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