Respiratory Acidosis

Question 1

What is acidosis?

Answer 1

A situation in which the hydrogen ion concentration of arterial plasma is increased above normal (i.e. plasma pH is less than 7.35) whereas alkanosis denotes a decrease

Question 2

What causes respiratory acidosis?

Answer 2

Failure to remove carbon dioxide from the blood

This can be due to inadequate ventilation or to the presence of significant amounts of carbon dioxide in inspired air

Question 3

What kind of compensation can correct respiratory acidosis?

Answer 3

Renal compensatiom

Question 4

Describe how renal compensation works

Answer 4

The decrease in pH causes an increase in hydrogen ion secretion into tue proximal convoluted tubule (via sodium- hydrogen antiporters) and collecting ducts (via hydrogen ATPases) and the increased reabsorption of bicarbonate ions which buffer the pH