How does the body respond to acidosis through breathing?

In response to acidosis, the body's primary mechanism to correct blood pH involves changes in ventilation rate. Acidosis refers to a state where there is an excess of hydrogen ions (H+) in the body, leading to a decrease in blood pH. To counteract this, the respiratory system increases breathing rate (hyperventilation), which helps to expel carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body.

As CO2 is removed, the concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3-) decreases due to the reduced availability of CO2 for conversion to carbonic acid (H2CO3). The reduction in CO2 levels leads to a decrease in carbonic acid and subsequently results in a shift towards a more alkaline state, thus raising blood pH. This is a compensatory mechanism aimed at restoring the acid-base balance.

Therefore, as the body adjusts its breathing in response to acidosis, it effectively decreases the concentration of CO2 and HCO3-, leading to an increase in blood pH which helps to mitigate the effects of the initial acidosis.