What is the term for oxygen that is bound to hemoglobin?

Oxyhemoglobin refers specifically to the form of hemoglobin that is bound to oxygen. When oxygen molecules attach to hemoglobin in the red blood cells, they form oxyhemoglobin, which is crucial for efficient oxygen transport throughout the body. This binding occurs primarily in the lungs, where oxygen concentration is high. The formation of oxyhemoglobin is essential for delivering oxygen to tissues that need it, highlighting its critical role in respiratory physiology.

In contrast, other terms describe different states of hemoglobin. Deoxyhemoglobin denotes hemoglobin that has released its bound oxygen; carboxyhemoglobin refers to hemoglobin that is bound to carbon monoxide rather than oxygen; and methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin that has been oxidized and is not efficient at binding or releasing oxygen. Understanding these different forms of hemoglobin is important for studying oxygen transport and the effects of various gases on the blood.