Final answer:
It is false that low oxygen levels in tissues lead to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin; it leads to the formation of deoxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin occurs when hemoglobin binds with carbon monoxide, while oxygen dissociation depends on tissue oxygen needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that when oxygen concentrations are low in tissues surrounding systemic capillaries, hemoglobin releases oxygen to become carboxyhemoglobin is false. In fact, when the partial pressure of oxygen is low in the tissues, hemoglobin releases oxygen to become deoxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin is formed when hemoglobin binds with carbon monoxide (CO), not from the release of oxygen.
Within the systemic capillaries, when tissues have high metabolic rates, they lower the partial pressure of oxygen, prompting more oxygen molecules to dissociate from hemoglobin and enter the tissues. In tissues with low metabolic rates, such as adipose tissue, the partial pressure of oxygen remains relatively high, resulting in fewer oxygen molecules dissociating from hemoglobin. Hemoglobin's role in transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide is critical for maintaining tissue oxygenation and pH balance, and is regulated by these partial pressures.