Final answer:
Respiratory compensation for pH changes is primarily mediated by peripheral and central chemoreceptors, which sense alterations in CO2, O2, and pH levels, and adjust the respiratory rate to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Respiratory compensation for changes in pH are originated by peripheral chemoreceptors and central chemoreceptors. These receptors detect changes in the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and the pH of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). When peripheral chemoreceptors, located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries, sense a drop in pH (indicating an increase in hydrogen ions and CO2), they signal the brain to increase ventilation, thus expelling more CO2 to raise the pH back to normal. Similarly, central chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongata respond to changes in the pH of the CSF, modulating the respiratory rate accordingly to maintain pH balance.