What physiological response occurs to maintain acid-base balance with increased CO2 levels?

When there are increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bloodstream, the body initiates a response to maintain acid-base balance primarily through increased ventilation rate. This physiological response is crucial because elevated CO2 can lead to respiratory acidosis, a condition in which the blood becomes more acidic.

The respiratory system plays a vital role in regulating blood pH by adjusting the levels of CO2. When CO2 levels rise, it combines with water in the body to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate; this process lowers blood pH, making it more acidic. To counteract this shift towards acidity, the body increases the rate and depth of breathing, known as hyperventilation. This drives more CO2 out of the body through the lungs, helping to restore normal pH levels by reducing the concentration of carbonic acid in the blood.

In this context, the increase in ventilation rate enables the body to expel excess CO2, thereby contributing to maintaining a proper acid-base balance.