NBEO General Physiology Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

An increase in pH, which indicates more basic conditions, shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the left. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the Bohr effect. In more basic conditions, hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen increases, meaning it binds oxygen more tightly. Consequently, at a given partial pressure of oxygen, hemoglobin will hold onto the oxygen better, leading to a higher saturation level compared to conditions of lower pH.

This leftward shift also indicates that lower oxygen concentrations are sufficient to saturate hemoglobin as the pH increases. The physiological implications of this shift are significant; in environments where the pH is higher (more alkaline), such as in the lungs or during certain metabolic states, hemoglobin is more effective at picking up oxygen. Conversely, in tissues with higher carbon dioxide production and lower pH, the curve shifts to the right, promoting the release of oxygen to those tissues.

Understanding this shift is essential for comprehending how oxygen transport and delivery is regulated in the body under various physiological conditions.