Explain how the respiratory system may compensate for metabo

Explain how the respiratory system may compensate for metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. For an ongoing pH imbalance, what is the limit of respiratory compensation?

Solution

Normal pH of blood of blood ranges between 7.35 and 7.45 . So when the pH falls below 7.35 , metabolic acidosis occurs, while when pH rises above 7.35 , metabolic alkalosis occurs. When our lungs can not ventilate properly and waste carbon dioxide gets accumulated in blood . These excess carbon dioxide combines with water forming carbonic acid and lowering the pH. Acidosis . It affects central nervous system . To compensate it respiratory system performs hyperventilation which removes excess carbon dioxide .

Similarly, when lungs hyperventilates carbon dioxide gets removed excessively thus basicity increases . Thus in order to compensate respiratory system slows lungs ventilation . Thus carbon dioxide is retained to neutralize basicity .

There are sensory receptors in brain that sense pH of cerebrospinal fluid . Hence when pH decreases rate of respiration is increased and vice versa .