Question

What is true about hypoventilation? Explain answer

(A) decreased concentration of H₂CO₃

(B) decreased blood pH

(C) decreased concentration of H+

(D) decreased concentration of HCO₃^-

Answer 1

B) decreased blood pH

• Here acidosis is seen due to poor function of lungs or breathing and causes blood CO2 level to increase leading to respiratory acidosis.
• Hypoventilation occurs when ventilation is inadequate to perform needed gas exchange.
• It mainly causes increased concentration of carbon dioxide.
• The concentration of H+ increases causing respiratory acidosis.
• Generally H2CO3 neutralizes the base that is responsible in increasing the blood pH and HCO3 neutralizes the acid that is responsible in decreasing the blood pH.
• In this case the H2CO3 concentration is increased.
• Due to respiratory acidosis the concentration of H+ increases and due to this increase in the concentration of H+ , a decrease in the blood pH is seen.
• Whne the HCO3 level is decreased , it causes metabolic acidosis.
• metabolic acidosis is caused when digestive and urinary system fails to breakdown and maintain proper level of acids in the blood and also an overproduction of acid.
• Excessive loss of bicarbonate(HCO3) from blood also causes only metabolic acidosis.
• Respiratory acidosis occurs when breathing out doest not get rid of CO2(Hypoventilation) and cause the blood pH to increase.