2007-03-04 06:42:30 · 4 answers · asked by Biology q 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
lower oxygen content in the mountains and most of the oxygen in your body(since oxygen is not really soluble in aqueous solution) is carried in hemoglobin found in red blood cells. Your body adapts by increasing the affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen and increases production of RBC's.
2007-03-04 06:47:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the oxygen level in the mountains is lower than at sea level; more red blood cells are created to help carry more oxygen to the body.
2007-03-04 06:57:19 · answer #2 · answered by alm8935 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At high altitude, the amount of oxygen available to your body is lower. It's still 21% of the atmosphere, but the total atmospheric pressure is lower, so there is a lower partial pressure of oxygen.
The body recognizes this lack of oxygen and compensates in several ways, including increasing the affinity of hemoglobin in the blood for oxygen, increasing the amount of blood pumped by the heart, and increasing the amount of oxygen the blood can carry (by increasing the number of red cells).
2007-03-04 06:52:20 · answer #3 · answered by Ken C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The hormone that is increased when you have low oxygen in your blood is erythropoeitin. Goes with all the rest of the answers above.
2007-03-04 07:33:50 · answer #4 · answered by Tiffany 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋