Final answer:
The chemoreceptor response to hypoxia at high altitudes results in an increase, not a decrease, in ventilation as the body tries to compensate for the lower availability of oxygen. This allows for maintaining adequate oxygen supply despite the lower partial pressure of oxygen at high elevations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the chemoreceptor response to hypoxia (low arterial PO2) decreases ventilation at high altitudes is false. When individuals are exposed to high altitudes, the peripheral chemoreceptors that sense oxygen levels in the blood initiate an increase in respiratory activity if the blood oxygen levels become significantly low, approximately at 60 mm Hg or less. These receptors sense dissolved oxygen molecules, which are not the majority bound to hemoglobin. Therefore, a substantial drop in dissolved oxygen levels is required to stimulate chemoreceptors to increase ventilation, not decrease it, in an effort to compensate for the lower partial pressure of oxygen in the high-altitude environment.
It's crucial to understand that the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are tightly interconnected, especially in their response to different metabolic demands. This interrelationship is key to maintaining proper oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal. At high altitudes, the body may also produce more erythrocytes and erythropoietin (EPO), enhancing oxygen transport capacity over time and facilitating acclimatization to the reduced oxygen environment.