Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What is the primary function of hemoglobin in the body?

1. Regulate blood pressure

2. Transport and deliver carbon dioxide

3. Transport and deliver oxygen

4. Assist in blood clotting

The correct answer is: Transport and deliver oxygen

The primary function of hemoglobin in the body is to transport and deliver oxygen to the tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells, and its structure allows it to bind to oxygen molecules in the lungs where oxygen concentration is high. Once bound, hemoglobin carries the oxygen through the bloodstream to various tissues and organs. This delivery of oxygen is crucial for cellular respiration, the process through which cells produce energy. Oxygen is used to convert glucose and other nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which cells use for energy. Additionally, hemoglobin also plays a role in the transport of carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, but its primary and most vital role is oxygen transport. The options that mention regulating blood pressure and assisting in blood clotting relate to different physiological processes. Blood pressure regulation involves various factors including heart function and vascular resistance, which are not directly associated with hemoglobin. Similarly, blood clotting is primarily managed by platelets and clotting factors, not hemoglobin. Therefore, the critical and defining function of hemoglobin remains the transport and delivery of oxygen throughout the body.