What is the effect of pCO२ on oxygen transport?
The partial pressure of the gas determines its movement as diffusion only occurs from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. The high partial pressure of carbon dioxide and lower partial pressure of oxygen causes the dissociation of oxygen from hemoglobin and carbon dioxide replaces oxy-hemoglobin with carbamino-hemoglobin. Thus, the affinity of oxygen is reduced for hemoglobin when there is a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. This takes place in tissues as anaerobic respiration in muscles produces a high concentration of carbon dioxide. The higher concentration of carbon dioxide reduces the affinity of oxygen for hemoglobin and replaces oxygen in oxy-hemoglobin with carbamino-hemoglobin.
