Carbonic anhydrase (CA)

Definition

Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme found primarily in red blood cells, facilitating the rapid conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which then dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate. This process is crucial for transporting CO2 from tissues to the lungs and for maintaining acid-base balance in the blood.

Related terms

Bicarbonate:

A form of carbon dioxide carried in the bloodstream, acting as a buffer to maintain pH balance within the body.

Acid: base balance - The mechanism by which the body maintains its blood pH within a narrow range, critical for proper physiological functions.

Respiratory acidosis: A condition arising when the lungs cannot remove enough of the carbon dioxide produced by the body, leading to an imbalance in blood pH