Platinum Airway Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A leftward shift on the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve indicates an increased affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. This shift can occur due to several physiological changes that enhance hemoglobin's ability to bind to oxygen more readily.

When CO2 levels are lower, the concentration of carbonic acid in the blood decreases, leading to a higher pH, which is known as the Bohr effect. A higher pH results in less hydrogen ion competition with oxygen for binding sites on hemoglobin, ultimately increasing the hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen.

Additionally, a lower temperature can also contribute to this shift. Increased temperature typically facilitates the release of oxygen from hemoglobin by decreasing its affinity for oxygen, while decreased temperature has the opposite effect, enhancing oxygen binding.

In summary, the combination of lower CO2 levels, lower temperature, and higher pH collectively promotes a leftward shift on the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, indicating a stronger binding of oxygen to hemoglobin.