Final answer:
Anaerobic metabolism in muscles leads to lactic acid production, which decreases blood pH, and through the Bohr effect, decreases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen, facilitating oxygen delivery to exercising muscle. The body uses the carbonate buffering system and respiratory adjustments to maintain pH stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change in blood pH due to anaerobic metabolism in muscles affects oxygen delivery because of the Bohr effect. When anaerobic metabolism increases during intensive exercise, lactic acid is produced, which is then neutralized by the HCO3− ion, forming carbonic acid (H2CO3). The carbonic acid further breaks down to carbon dioxide and water, which affects pH levels. An increase in carbon dioxide leads to a more acidic environment (lower pH) which decreases the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, causing it to release oxygen more readily to the muscles.To manage changes in pH, our body uses a carbonate buffering system and the respiratory system.
Faster breathing rates can expel more carbon dioxide, thus raising blood pH, whereas slower breathing rates can increase blood CO2 concentration and lower blood pH, helping to maintain a stable internal environment.The increase in the production of acids like lactic acid during anaerobic metabolism decreases the pH of the blood. This decreased pH shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the right, resulting in oxygen being released from hemoglobin more easily to meet the muscle's increased demand for oxygen.