At the tissues, the amount of oxygen released from oxyhemoglobin __________Blank as the blood pH decreases.Multiple Choiceincreasesdecreases

To answer the question, let's analyze the relevant biological concepts regarding hemoglobin, oxygen binding, and the effects of pH on this interaction.

Understanding the Concept

1. Oxyhemoglobin: Hemoglobin bound to oxygen, primarily found in red blood cells, plays a vital role in transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues.
2. Effect of pH on Oxygen Release (Bohr Effect): The Bohr effect describes how a decrease in pH (which indicates an increase in carbon dioxide concentration and acidity) affects the binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. As pH decreases, hemoglobin releases oxygen more readily.

Analysis

1. Physiological Context: In tissues that are metabolically active, such as muscles during exertion, carbon dioxide is produced by cellular respiration. This process raises the acidity (lowers pH) of the surrounding environment.
2. Result on Hemoglobin: The lowered pH changes the structure of hemoglobin, reducing its affinity for oxygen. Consequently, more oxygen is released to meet the increased demand of the actively respiring tissues.

Conclusion

Given the relationship between pH and oxygen release from oxyhemoglobin described above:

• Final Answer: The amount of oxygen released from oxyhemoglobin increases as the blood pH decreases.

Therefore, the correct choice for the blank is "increases."