oxygen dissociation curve

Question

What is the main point of the oxygen-dissociation curve?

Answer 1

In addition to what the previous answer mentioned, it is important to note how the oxygen-dissociation curve changes based on different conditions.

For example, your muscles create lactic acid when you exercise, that's what causes the burning feeling. The acidic environment created by lactic acid "shifts" the oxygen-dissociation curve to the right, meaning that Hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen goes DOWN. This makes sense! You want your hemoglobin to drop off oxygen in your muscles while you are working out.

On the flip side of this, less acidic environments like the lungs (ex. less CO2 which is acidic) shift the oxygen-dissociation curve to the left, meaning that Hemoglobins affinity for oxygen goes UP. This is great in the lungs! It lets your hemoglobin grab as much oxygen as possible before heading to the rest of your body to deliver that oxygen.

Answer 2

The oxygen dissociation curve demonstrates that, as the partial pressure of oxygen increases, more oxygen binds hemoglobin.