Respiratory acidosis is primarily caused by an inability to expel which gas?

Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream effectively. This impairment leads to an accumulation of CO2, resulting in increased levels of carbonic acid in the body, which subsequently decreases the pH of the blood and causes it to become more acidic.

In respiratory acidosis, conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma, or situations that depress respiratory function, such as neuromuscular disorders, can hinder the expulsion of CO2. This clinical picture underscores the critical role of the lungs in maintaining acid-base balance by regulating CO2 levels in the blood. Hence, a failure to effectively remove CO2 is central to the development of respiratory acidosis. Understanding the role of carbon dioxide in this context is key to recognizing how respiratory function impacts overall metabolic stability.