Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The Haldane effect describes how deoxygenated blood can carry more carbon dioxide than oxygenated blood. It highlights the relationship between hemoglobin's affinity for carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood.
A protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returning carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs.
Oxygen saturation: A measure of how much oxygen is being carried by hemoglobin in the blood.
Carbon dioxide transport: The process of carrying carbon dioxide from the tissues where it is produced to the lungs where it is expelled