Question

How is the respiratory system involved in acid-based homeostasis? What was the mechanism causing Jamal to hyperventilate and to have low PCO₂ and HCO₃-?

Answer 1

The respiratory system regulates the balance of acids and bases in the body by controlling blood levels of carbonic acid. Increasing respiration helps lower blood pH, while hyperventilation reduces carbonic acid levels and makes the blood too alkaline.

Step-by-step explanation:

The respiratory system contributes to the balance of acids and bases in the body by regulating the blood levels of carbonic acid. When the CO2 level in the blood rises, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, lowering blood pH. Increasing the rate and/or depth of respiration allows you to exhale more CO2, adjusting the pH upward. On the other hand, hyperventilation rids the blood of CO2, reducing the level of carbonic acid and making the blood too alkaline. This brief alkalosis can be remedied by rebreathing exhaled air.