Question

Which of the following best describes the chloride shift as seen in the figure?

a. Movement of chloride ions into red blood cells
b. Movement of chloride ions out of red blood cells
c. Exchange of chloride ions between blood and tissue cells
d. Absence of chloride ions in blood circulation

Answer 1

The chloride shift involves the exchange of chloride ions between red blood cells and plasma to maintain electrical balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chloride shift refers to the exchange of chloride ions (CI-) between red blood cells and plasma in order to maintain electrical balance. In this process, bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) produced from carbon dioxide in the red blood cells leave the cells and enter the plasma, while chloride ions enter the red blood cells. This maintains the electrical charge of both the cells and the blood.