Physiological

Responses to
Respiratory
Acidosis

What is a Physiological
Response?
A Physiological Response/ Physiological
Reaction is defined as a bodily process
occurring due to the effect of some
antecedent stimulus or agent

Physiological Response to
Respiratory Acidosis
Hyperventilation
Overcompensation by Kidneys
Increased Heart Rate

Hyperventilation
Acid-Base disturbance created by high PaCO2 in blood.
Hypercapnia, a condition where there is excess CO2
present in the blood, ensues.
Increased CO2 levels in blood results in decreased pH.
Respiratory centre in the brains medulla detects high
Hydrogen ion concentration.
Nervous impulses sent via intercostal nerve and
phrenic nerve to external intercostal muscles and
diaphragm respectively.
Poor ventilation by lungs results in the suffer having to
inhale and exhale excessively in an attempt to
decrease PaCO2 levels.

Overcompensation by
Kidneys
Due to failure of lungs to prevent
respiratory acidosis, the kidneys
increase the rate at which Hydrogen
ions are absorbed into the filtrate.
There is also an increase in the rate of
renal bicarbonate absorption to increase
the overall plasma bicarbonate levels.
This is done in order to return to a
normal bicarbonate/PaCO2 ratio.

Increased Heart Rate