Over 99% of the O2 transported in blood is chemically
bonded with hemoglobin. The effect of the partial
pressure of O2 on the combination of O2 with hemoglobin
is illustrated by the S-shaped O2-hemoglobin dissociation
curve.
An increase in body temperature and a reduction in
blood pH results in a right shift in the O2-hemoglobin
dissociation curve and a reduced affinity of hemoglobin
for O2.