Question

A patient with an alteration in acid-base balance is diagnosed with respiratory acidosis. Which description best defines what the patient is experiencing?

Select one:

a. Dissolved carbon dioxide

b. Excess bicarbonate

c. Excess acid

d. Elevated pH

Answer 1

Answer is option A dissolved carbon dioxide.

EXPLANATION- respiratory acidosis is a condition where there is fall in the pH due to failure of lungs to eliminate carbon dioxide from the blood. This carbon dioxide which is dissolved in the plasma as the carbonic anhydrase lowered the pH levels.

This happens when lungs hypoventilate.

When pH alters due to lungs failure to eliminate CO2 then it's called respiratory acidosis. When the kidneys and GIT fail to maintain pH and let the pH drop to lower values, it's called metabolic acidosis.

Excess bicarbonate and elevated pH are not the signs of the acidosis. They are the indications of metabolic alkalosis.

Excess acid production, that is more H+ ions can alter the pH of the blood, but this is not a sign of respiratory acidosis.