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In a patient with respiratory acidosis, is the renal system responsible for compensating for the increase acid level in the blood?

1) True
2) False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The renal system does compensate for increased acid levels in blood due to respiratory acidosis by conserving bicarbonate ions and secreting hydrogen ions to help reestablish proper pH balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is true that the renal system is responsible for compensating for the increase in acid level in the blood when a patient is experiencing respiratory acidosis. In the case of respiratory acidosis, where there is an excess of CO2 in the blood, the kidneys respond by increasing the conservation of bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and the secretion of hydrogen ions (H+). This renal compensation involves an exchange mechanism that helps to increase the concentration of bicarbonate in the blood, thus reestablishing the proper relative concentrations of bicarbonate and carbonic acid, and helping to correct the pH balance in the body.

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