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In a car accident, Jane suffered a chest injury that resulted in impaired breathing and respiratory acidosis. How will her body compensate for this imbalance?

a) kidneys eliminate bicarbonate ions.
B) kidneys retain bicarbonate ions.
c) kidneys retain hydrogen ions.
d) kidneys eliminate carbon dioxide.

2 Answers

4 votes

Final answer:

The body compensates for respiratory acidosis by having the kidneys retain bicarbonate ions, which help to neutralize excess hydrogen ions and restore pH balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to a chest injury leading to impaired breathing and respiratory acidosis, Jane's body would try to compensate for this imbalance through the kidneys. The proper compensation mechanism would involve the kidneys retaining bicarbonate ions (HCO3-). This process occurs because bicarbonate can neutralize excess hydrogen ions (H+), which are contributing to acidosis, and help to restore the blood pH balance. The renal cells also excrete H+ through proton pumps into the forming urine, thus reducing the acidity in the blood. However, kidneys do not eliminate carbon dioxide directly; that is the role of the lungs.

User Chourobin
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5.6k points
2 votes

Answer:

B) kidneys retain bicarbonate ions

Step-by-step explanation:

Respiratory acidosis involves the inability of the lungs to remove the Carbon dioxide in the body which result in the blood being acidic.

Jane was said to suffer a chest injury that resulted in impaired breathing and respiratory acidosis. Her body will compensate for this imbalance through the kidneys having the ability to retain bicarbonate ions. This helps to reduce the acidity as the ions are alkaline in nature.

User Mark Jin
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5.2k points