Final answer:
Bicarbonate levels and serum CO2 levels in the human body are closely related. In metabolic acidosis, bicarbonate levels decrease as the body compensates to maintain the proper ratio of bicarbonate and CO2. In respiratory acidosis, bicarbonate levels increase to reestablish the proper ratio.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the human body, bicarbonate levels are closely related to the serum CO2 levels. In cases of metabolic acidosis, where lower-than-normal amounts of bicarbonate are present in the blood, the pCO2 would be normal at first, but if compensation occurs, it would decrease as the body tries to reestablish the proper ratio of bicarbonate and carbonic acid/CO2. On the other hand, in respiratory acidosis, where excess CO2 is present in the blood, bicarbonate levels would be normal at first, but if compensation occurs, they would increase in an attempt to reestablish the proper ratio.