Which statement correctly describes respiratory acidosis versus respiratory alkalosis?

Which statement correctly describes respiratory acidosis versus respiratory alkalosis?

• A. Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot blow off enough CO2; respiratory alkalosis occurs when too much CO2 is eliminated.
• B. Respiratory acidosis occurs when CO2 is expelled too rapidly; alkalosis occurs when CO2 is retained.
• C. They are caused by metabolic disturbances, not respiratory.
• D. They are the same condition.

Answer: (A)

This isa about how carbon dioxide levels in the blood drive respiratory acid-base disorders. CO2 forms carbonic acid in the blood; when ventilation is reduced, CO2 builds up (hypercapnia), more hydrogen ions are produced, and the pH falls—this is respiratory acidosis. When ventilation is too high, CO2 is blown off faster than it’s made (hypocapnia), fewer hydrogen ions are present, and the pH rises—this is respiratory alkalosis. So the best statement is the one that links acidosis to not blowing off enough CO2 and alkalosis to blowing off too much CO2. The other options either flip the relationship, attribute it to metabolic causes, or claim they’re the same condition.

This isa about how carbon dioxide levels in the blood drive respiratory acid-base disorders. CO2 forms carbonic acid in the blood; when ventilation is reduced, CO2 builds up (hypercapnia), more hydrogen ions are produced, and the pH falls—this is respiratory acidosis. When ventilation is too high, CO2 is blown off faster than it’s made (hypocapnia), fewer hydrogen ions are present, and the pH rises—this is respiratory alkalosis. So the best statement is the one that links acidosis to not blowing off enough CO2 and alkalosis to blowing off too much CO2. The other options either flip the relationship, attribute it to metabolic causes, or claim they’re the same condition.