What is the effect of pCO₂ on oxygen transport?
pCO₂ plays a significant role in oxygen transport. In the tissues, where pCO₂ is high (along with high H⁺ concentration and low pO₂), the conditions are favourable for the dissociation of oxygen from oxyhaemoglobin. This ensures that oxygen is released to the tissues where it is needed.
In the alveoli, where pCO₂ is low and pO₂ is high, the conditions are favourable for the formation of oxyhaemoglobin. This promotes the binding of oxygen to haemoglobin in the lungs. Thus, high pCO₂ promotes oxygen release, while low pCO₂ promotes oxygen binding.
Explanation
The textbook clearly explains the effect of pCO₂ on oxygen transport through the Oxygen dissociation curve. The context states that in tissues where pCO₂ is high, conditions favour dissociation of oxygen from oxyhaemoglobin, while in alveoli where pCO₂ is low, conditions favour formation of oxyhaemoglobin. This is a key concept in understanding how oxygen is efficiently delivered to tissues that need it most.