Indicate the [CO₂] and [HCO₃-] levels, labelled a. through i., in each of the following situations. (Options may be used more than once or not at all.)
-compensated metabolic acidosis
A)[CO₂] normal, [HCO₃-] decreased below normal
B)[CO₂] normal, [HCO₃-] increased above normal
C)[CO₂] increased above normal, [HCO₃-] normal
D)[CO₂] decreased below normal,[ HCO₃-] normal
E)[CO₂] decreased below normal, [HCO₃-] decreased below normal
F)[CO₂] increased above normal, [HCO₃-] increased above normal
G)[CO₂] decreased below normal, [HCO₃-] increased above normal
H)[CO₂] increased above normal, [HCO₃-] decreased below normal
I)[CO₂] normal, [HCO₃-] normal

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Compensated metabolic acidosis occurs when the body tries to compensate for a primary metabolic acidosis by decreasing [CO₂] through increased ventilation and increasing [HCO₃-] through renal retention. In this situation, [HCO₃-] is decreased below normal due to the primary metabolic acidosis, and [CO₂] is decreased below normal due to the compensatory hyperventilation. Therefore, the correct option is E.

Indicate the [CO₂] and [HCO₃-] Levels, Labelled A