Final answer:
The statement that hemoglobin concentration determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is true. Hemoglobin binds oxygen for transport and is affected by various factors including blood pH and diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, which can alter oxygen delivery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemoglobin concentration indeed determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Each hemoglobin molecule can bind up to four oxygen molecules, and it is this binding that facilitates oxygen transport through the bloodstream. Factors such as carbon dioxide levels, blood pH, and body temperature can influence hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen and thereby affect oxygen-carrying capacity. Conditions like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia also affect the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity by altering hemoglobin concentration or function.
Diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia can significantly reduce oxygen delivery to tissues. In sickle cell anemia, the misshapen erythrocytes hinder blood flow and oxygen delivery, whereas in thalassemia, a genetic defect leads to a reduction in hemoglobin levels within red blood cells.
Without adequate levels of hemoglobin in the red blood cells, the body's tissues might not receive enough oxygen to perform metabolic processes necessary for survival. This demonstrates that the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is indeed determined by hemoglobin concentration, making the initial statement true.