At respiring peripheral tissues, the Bohr effect leads to _____________________ The Bohr Effect and Its Role in Respiratory Physiology

The Bohr Effect and Its Role in Respiratory Physiology

The Bohr effect is a physiological phenomenon that occurs at the peripheral respiratory tissues and plays an important role in the regulation of the human body’s oxygenation. The effect is named after the Danish physiologist Christian Bohr, who first identified it in 1904. The Bohr effect states that when the pH of the blood near a respiring tissue decreases, the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin also decreases, and vice versa. This effect is mainly caused by the binding of hydrogen ions to the oxygen-binding sites of hemoglobin, which reduces the affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen. In addition, the Bohr effect also causes a decrease in the binding of carbon dioxide to the hemoglobin. The Bohr effect is primarily responsible for the oxygen transport and respiratory physiology in the human body. It allows the body to adjust the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in response to changes in the pH of the surrounding blood. This is especially important during exercise, when the pH of the blood decreases, thus decreasing the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. As a result, the body is able to increase the oxygen delivery to the working muscles and ensure the energy production process is maintained. Cont…