With Reference to Acid-Base Balance Explore the Role of the Respiratory System in Maintaining Blood Ph?

The respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to supply oxygen to the body’s cells, remove carbon dioxide and regulate the Ph of the body’s fluids. This system of regulation is called homeostasis. (www.wiki.answers.com, 2013)

Hypoxia is one of the major problems associated with this increase in altitude. This is due to the fact that the partial pressure of oxygen decreases proportionately with increases in altitude. Carbon dioxide that is continually excreted from the pulmonary blood to the alveoli along with water vaporizing in the inspired air from the respiratory surfaces dilute the oxygen in the alveoli which cause the oxygen concentration to decrease.

Because the PCO2 levels are too high the body is not getting the adequate amount of oxygen. This means the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin is not working properly do to the excessive amounts carbon dioxide causing respiratory acidosis.

Once oxygen is deposited into the bloodstream by the lungs, the body must also increase your heart rate to deliver oxygen to the cells to once again maintain homeostasis. The increase in

When your blood pH being alkaline, you experience respiratory alkalosis. The co2 levels drop in your blood which causes complications.

Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all the carbon dioxide the body produces. This causes body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic. Chronic respiratory acidosis occurs over a long period of time, this leads to a stable situation, because the kidneys increase body chemicals, such as bicarbonate, that help restore the body’s acid-base balance. Acute respiratory acidosis is a condition in which carbon dioxide builds up quickly, before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance. Some of the symptoms may include: confusion, fatigue, lethargy, shortness of breath, and sleepiness. Some causes of

D) If you hyperventilate the kidneys will counteract the alkalinity by adding hydrogen ions into the blood stream

Homeostasis is vital for us humans. However, homeostasis imbalance can occur when cells in the body malfunction or experience a deficiency such as malnutrition (results from unhealthy diet) or when cells are exposed to toxins.

The respiratory system is a complex organ structure of the human body anatomy, and the primary purpose of this system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood vessels to carry the precious gaseous element to all parts of the body to accomplish cell respiration. The respiratory system completes this important function of breathing throughout inspiration. In the breathing process inhaling oxygen is essential for cells to metabolize nutrients and carry out some other tasks, but it must occur simultaneously with exhaling when the carbon dioxide is excreted, this exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood (McGowan, Jefferies & Turley, 2004).

The R.S. laboratory results show the patient is suffering from respiratory acidosis with a metabolic compensation. The PH is decreased from the normal 7.4, his PaCO2 is elevated from the normal range of 34-45 mm Hg, and his O2 is elevated from the normal range of 24-30 mm Hg. his elevated PaO2 indicates that he has a metabolic compensation. The body does not like to be in acidosis therefore it will start to correct the problem through compensating by promoting the kidneys to produce more metabolic acid to help restore the balance.

The data have supported the hypothesis because it showed the results in the data. When the PCO2 is 40, the blood pH is 7.38 which it is normal that lead to have normal H+ in urine and HCO3- in urine. The PCO2 get lower to 30, the blood pH is 7.58 which it is high that lead to decreased in H+ in urine and elevated in HCO3- in urine. The PCO2 get higher to 60, the blood pH is 7.28 which it is low that lead to elevated in H+ in urine and decreased in HCO3- in urine. Respiratory alkalosis is when the PCO2 is lowered that cause a person to have hyperventilation that it is over breathing. It can happen if someone have panic attack, anxiety, or stress. The treatments are breathing exercise, practice relaxation, and exercise regularly to raise the carbon dioxide levels. Respiratory acidosis is when the PCO2 is raised that cause a person to have hypoventilation that is slow breathing. It can happen if someone have daytime drowsiness, fatigue, morning headaces,and bluish color on the skin. The treatments are losing weight, supplemental oxygen, and continuous positive airway pressure to decrease the carbon dioxide

Assuming that enough time has passed for the renal system to fully compensate for respiratory alkalosis, would you expect PCO2 levels to increase or decrease? Would you expect blood pH levels to increase or decrease? The Pco2 levels would increase as the HCO3- is excreted through the urine and the renal system pumps H+ back into the blood. This would cause the pH levels to decrease to within homeostasis range.

Metabolic acidosis results from all conditions that decrease the pH of the body fluids below 7.35 and HCO3- levels are <22 mEq/L, with the exception of conditions resulting from altered function of the respiratory system. As hydrogen ions accumulate in the body fluids, buffers first resist a decline in pH. If the buffers cannot compensate for the increase in hydrogen ions, the respiratory center helps regulate the body fluid pH. The reduced pH stimulates the respiratory center, which causes hyperventilation. During hyperventilation, carbon dioxide is eliminated at a greater rate. The elimination of carbon dioxide also eliminates excess hydrogen ions and helps maintain the pH of the body fluids within a normal range. (Angus, 2006)

Respiratory Acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot remove all the carbon dioxide that the body makes. In turn this makes fluid in the body become too acidic. The distinctive feature of respiratory acidosis is an abnormally high PCO2, meaning above 45 mmHg. Improper exhalation of oxygen can cause the blood pH to drop.” Any condition that decreases the movement of CO2 from the blood to the alveoli of the lungs to the atmosphere causes a buildup of CO2, H2CO3, and H+ (Tortora, 2014, p.1036)”. Symptoms of this condition may include: confusion, lethargy, fatigue, sleepiness, and shortness of breath. Probable causes are: obesity, disease of the chest, diseases of the lungs and airways, and drugs that suppress breathing (MedlinePLus, 2012). A health care provider will perform a physical exam to see if this is what is happening. He may do so by: arterial blood gas which measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, basic metabolic panel, a chest x-ray, or possibly a pulmonary function test (MedlinePLus, 2012). Treatment is mainly aimed at the underlying cause not at condition itself. It is treated

If an acid-base disturbance shifts the pH outside of the physiologic range, various control measures are activated to resist the change in pH. Compensatory mechanisms try to preserve the normal 20:1 ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid to keep the pH at normal range. The body works to maintain normal ratios through a compensation mechanism using renal and respiratory methods (Crowley, 2010).