Compare and contrast uncompensated and compensated respiratory acidosis

What will be an ideal response?


In uncompensated respiratory acidosis, CO2 levels are elevated but [HCO3-] remains normal. The result is a decrease in pH because, although the introduction of one CO2 into the ECF results in the formation of one H+ via the carbonic acid-bicarbonate equation, the normal [HCO3-] is 600,000 times greater than the [H+]; therefore, adding one CO2 to a solution ultimately has a significantly greater effect on [H+] than on [HCO3]. In compensated respiratory acidosis, compensatory measures act to restore pH to normal. These include chemical buffers, which take up additional H+, and the kidneys, which conserve and make new HCO3- while excreting more H+.

Anatomy & Physiology

You might also like to view...

When a small, polar solute binds to a membrane protein that then changes shape and transports the solute across the membrane, the process is known as

A.  simple diffusion. B.  channel-mediated diffusion. C.  carrier-mediated diffusion. D.  active transport. E.  endocytosis.

Anatomy & Physiology

Bile salts aid protein digestion through their detergent action and facilitate protein absorption by participating in the formation of micelles

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Anatomy & Physiology

Hypersecretion of glucocorticoids, often caused by a tumor, results in ________

A) Cushing's syndrome B) Graves' disease C) diabetes insipidus D) Addison's disease

Anatomy & Physiology

__________ immunity results from exposure to a pathogen from vaccinations

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Anatomy & Physiology