Final answer:
The respiratory pattern characterized by rapid, deep breathing to correct pH imbalance by expelling CO₂ is called hyperventilation. It is key in compensating for metabolic acidosis to adjust blood pH to normal levels and is less effective in compensating for metabolic alkalosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The respiratory pattern characterized by rapid, deep breathing in an attempt to expel large amounts of carbon dioxide to balance pH levels is known as hyperventilation. This occurs when the body needs to lower increased acid levels, often due to metabolic acidosis, by exhaling more CO₂ which in turn lowers the carbonic acid in the blood, adjusting the pH upward towards normal levels. Conversely, in response to metabolic alkalosis, the body may try to retain CO₂ by slowing down the breathing rate; however, this respiratory compensation is less efficient than the compensation for acidosis as there are limits to how much the respiration rate can decrease. In clinical cases such as asthma, where CO₂ is not properly expelled due to constricted airways, respiratory acidosis can occur, leading to abnormally high levels of CO₂ in the blood. On the other hand, conditions such as bulimia, which can involve repetitive vomiting, may result in metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of stomach acid, which the respiratory system compensates for with changes in ventilation.