Which of the following statements about myoglobin and hemoglobin is correct?

The correct statement is that hemoglobin can bind oxygen in the lungs and release it in tissues. Hemoglobin, found in red blood cells, plays a crucial role in the transport of oxygen throughout the body. When blood flows through the lungs, hemoglobin binds to oxygen molecules due to the high partial pressure of oxygen present there. This binding occurs because hemoglobin has a strong affinity for oxygen under these conditions.

Once the blood reaches the tissues, where the partial pressure of oxygen is lower, hemoglobin releases the oxygen. This dynamic binding and releasing mechanism is vital for delivering oxygen to cells for metabolic processes. The ability of hemoglobin to change its affinity for oxygen based on the local environment is a key aspect of its function.

In contrast, myoglobin is primarily an oxygen-storage protein found in muscle tissues. While myoglobin does bind oxygen, it does so with a higher affinity than hemoglobin, which allows it to effectively retain oxygen for muscle use during periods of high activity rather than actively transporting it like hemoglobin does. This is why myoglobin is not as effective in transporting oxygen throughout the body.

Because of this distinction in function between myoglobin and hemoglobin, the statement regarding hemoglobin's ability to bind oxygen in the lungs and release it in