PEX -10-01

Exercise 10: Acid-Base Balance: Activity 1: Hyperventilation Lab Report
Pre-lab Quiz Results
You scored 75% by answering 3 out of 4 questions correctly.
1. The fastest compensatory mechanism for maintaining pH homeostasis in the human body is
Your answer : a. the renal system.
Correct answer: c. the chemical buffering system.
2. An increase in hydrogen ion concentration would
You correctly answered: d. decrease pH.
3. The amount of carbon dioxide in the blood is measured in
You correctly answered: b. mm Hg.
4. The reaction of water and carbon dioxide is catalyzed by
You correctly answered: a. carbonic anhydrase.

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Experiment Results
Predict Question:
Predict Question: What do you think will happen to the pH and PCO2 levels with hyperventilation?
Your answer : c. pH will increase and PCO2 will decrease.
Stop & Think Questions:
Were the pH and PCO2 in the normal range?
You correctly answered: c. Both pH and PCO2 were in the normal range.
What was the effect of returning to normal breathing after hyperventilation?
You correctly answered: b. The breathing stopped temporarily to retain carbon dioxide.
Experiment Data:
Condition
Normal
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation / Normal

Min PCO2
40
29.06
30.62

Max PCO2
40
40
40

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Min pH
7.42
7.39
7.38

Max pH
7.42
7.54
7.53

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Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.
1. Hyperventilation results in
You correctly answered: b. respiratory alkalosis.
2. With hyperventilation, the higher peaks on the tracing indicate
You correctly answered: a. a larger volume of air.
3. Which of the following is not a potential cause of respiratory alkalosis?
You correctly answered: d. emphysema
4. The kidneys can compensate for respiratory alkalosis by
You correctly answered: b. retaining H+ and excreting bicarbonate ion.

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Review Sheet Results
1. Describe the normal ranges for pH and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Your answer:
The normal range for pH is between 7.35 and 7.45. The normal range for carbon dioxide is 35 and 45 mm Hg.
2. Describe what happened to the pH and the carbon dioxide level with hyperventilation. How well did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
My prediction was accurate in that the pH level did in fact increase and the Pco2 decreased just like in the simulation.
3. Explain how returning to normal breathing after hyperventilation differed from hyperventilation without returning to normal breathing.
Your answer:
Returning to normal breathing after hyperventailation differed from hyperventilation without returning to normal in that one completly stops breathing all together after returning to normal.
4. Describe some possible causes of respiratory alkalosis.
Your answer:
There are several causes of respiratory alkalosis;stressfull situations, fear, anxiety, an object blocking your throat and even high altitudes can cause respiratory alkalosis.

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