Respiratory response to alkalosis is a hyperventilation b hy

Respiratory response to alkalosis is

a) hyperventilation

b) hypoventilation

c) hypercapnia

d) decreased metabolism

e) increased metabolism

Solution

Choice b is correct.

Reason: The acid-base content of the blood is closely monitored by concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Increase in the total carbon dioxide content of the blood causes the pH of blood to increase. This condition is observed under the cases of hypoxia, hyperventilation, excessive endurance exercise or acid-base disorders in an individual. Biologically, when rate of respiration increases too much or there occurs hyperventilation, the clearance of carbon dioxide from the blood does not take place efficiently. This causes increase in partial pressure of carbondioxid in the blood thus increasing the pH and causing alkalosis. Since this alkalosis takes place in response to increase in ventilation, depression in medulla oblongata in response to high blood CO2 content thus leading to hypoventilation controls alkalosis.