What is the primary respiratory compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the body's physiological response to metabolic acidosis, specifically the respiratory compensation mechanism. In metabolic acidosis, the body tries to compensate for the decreased pH by adjusting the breathing rate and depth to help blow off carbon dioxide and increase pH. This requires identifying the correct option that describes this mechanism.
Answer
Increased ventilation to reduce PaCO2.
The primary respiratory compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis is an increase in ventilation to reduce the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), thereby helping to elevate the pH.
Answer for screen readers
The primary respiratory compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis is an increase in ventilation to reduce the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), thereby helping to elevate the pH.
More Information
In metabolic acidosis, the body compensates by increasing ventilation, which effectively reduces the levels of CO2 in the blood. This compensation mechanism helps in raising the blood pH closer to normal, but it may not completely correct the acidosis.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming the compensation will completely correct the pH imbalance, which it does not. Another is confusing metabolic and respiratory mechanisms.
Sources
- Respiratory Compensation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Disorders of Acid-Base Balance | Anatomy and Physiology II - courses.lumenlearning.com
- Metabolic Acidosis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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