What happens in chronic hypercapnia?
I.The central chemoreceptive response to CO₂ is decreased.
II.The cerebrospinal fluid pH is restored to normal.
III.Responsiveness to increased CO₂ is decreased.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In chronic hypercapnia, the body adapts to the consistently high levels of CO2. This adaptation includes a decreased central chemoreceptive response to CO2, allowing the body to tolerate higher levels of CO2 without triggering increased respiration as aggressively as it would in an acute setting. Additionally, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pH is restored towards normal due to renal compensation, which adjusts the bicarbonate levels in the blood, indirectly affecting the CSF pH. Lastly, the overall responsiveness to increased CO2 is decreased, as the body's systems adjust to the chronic high levels of CO2, making the respiratory drive less sensitive to CO2 levels.

What Happens in Chronic Hypercapnia