What happens to oxygen levels in the blood if temperature rises significantly?

• A. Oxygen levels increase
• B. Oxygen levels remain constant
• C. Oxygen levels decrease
• D. Oxygen gets utilized more efficiently

Answer: (C)

When body temperature rises, the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen decreases. This is known as the Bohr effect, which states that an increase in temperature shifts the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the right. As a result, hemoglobin releases more oxygen to the tissues, resulting in lower levels of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the blood. Elevated temperatures can occur during exercise or fever, which are conditions where tissues require more oxygen. Therefore, the overall oxygen levels in the blood decrease since more oxygen is being released from hemoglobin to meet the increased metabolic demand, leading to a decreased saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen.

This physiological response is crucial for maintaining oxygen delivery to tissues during higher metabolic states, despite the fact that the absolute amount of dissolved oxygen in the plasma might remain unchanged. Thus, it is accurate to conclude that with a significant rise in temperature, the oxygen levels in the blood will decrease due to the enhanced release of oxygen from hemoglobin.