Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

An increase in blood temperature generally leads to a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), and a decrease in pH.

Increased temperature affects the solubility of gases; higher temperatures decrease the solubility of oxygen in blood, leading to a reduced availability of PO2. At the same time, carbon dioxide is more readily produced due to increased metabolic activity and higher temperatures can accelerate reactions that generate CO2, thus raising PCO2 levels.

Regarding pH, an increase in temperature can lead to a rightward shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, indicating that hemoglobin releases oxygen more readily but also affects the equilibrium of bicarbonate and carbonic acid in the blood, leading to a net decrease in pH (increased acidity).

This combination illustrates how temperature fluctuations can impact gas exchange and blood chemistry, mirroring the effects of metabolic changes and ensuring that tissues can receive the oxygen they need while managing carbon dioxide levels.