College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

Which two muscle proteins are responsible for binding oxygen?

1. Myoglobin and Creatine

2. Hemoglobin and Collagen

3. Myoglobin and Hemoglobin

4. Actin and Tropomyosin

The correct answer is: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin

The correct answer is Myoglobin and Hemoglobin because both of these proteins serve the essential function of binding oxygen, albeit in different contexts within the body. Myoglobin is a protein found primarily in muscle tissue where it plays a crucial role in oxygen storage and transport within muscle cells. It has a high affinity for oxygen, which allows it to effectively capture and hold oxygen molecules, making them available during periods of intense muscular activity. Hemoglobin, on the other hand, is found in red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to various tissues throughout the body. It binds oxygen in the lungs where the concentration of oxygen is high and releases it in tissues where oxygen is needed, thus supporting cellular respiration. Understanding the distinct roles of these proteins provides insight into how oxygen delivery and usage are optimized in both muscle and blood, highlighting their importance in physiological processes. The other options, while they contain names of proteins, do not relate to the binding of oxygen in the same manner.