Final answer:
Diarrhea can lead to a loss of bicarbonate, causing metabolic acidosis. The body compensates for this loss through increased ventilation to expel more CO2 and elevate blood pH. The correct answer to the question is c) Bicarbonate, increased.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diarrhea causes a significant loss of various ions and substances from the body, among which bicarbonate (HCO3-)is prominently affected. The loss of bicarbonate results in a decrease in the pH of the blood (metabolic acidosis) because bicarbonate is a base that helps to neutralize acids. When bicarbonate is lost in excess due to conditions such as diarrhea, the body attempts to compensate through respiratory mechanisms to balance the pH levels.
Respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis involves an increase in breathing rate and depth (ventilation), which helps to exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2), a component of carbonic acid. This reduces the level of carbonic acid in the blood, thus compensating for the lost bicarbonate and aiming to restore the balance between bicarbonate and carbonic acid levels.
Diarrhea causes loss of bicarbonate, resulting in increased ventilation to compensate. The correct option here is c) Bicarbonate, increased. Excessive loss of bicarbonate through the gastrointestinal tract due to diarrhea leads to a drop in blood pH, and the body responds by increasing respiratory rate to blow off excess CO2 and shift the pH back towards normal.