Final answer:
A shift to the right on the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve means lower affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. This shift is caused by factors like increased carbon dioxide levels, decreased pH, or increased temperature. These conditions result in more oxygen being released to tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
A shift to the right on the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve means that hemoglobin has a decreased affinity for oxygen at a given partial pressure of oxygen. This shift is typically caused by factors such as an increase in carbon dioxide levels, a decrease in pH (acidic environment), or an increase in temperature.
These conditions reduce the binding strength of hemoglobin with oxygen, resulting in the release of more oxygen to tissues. For example, during exercise, muscles produce more carbon dioxide and lactic acid, which lowers the pH and causes the oxygen dissociation curve to shift to the right, enabling more oxygen to be released to active tissues.