Which term denotes elevated carbon dioxide in the blood?

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Prepare for the CIEMT Medical and Physiology Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that feature explanations. Ace your test!

Multiple Choice

Which term denotes elevated carbon dioxide in the blood?

Explanation:
Elevated carbon dioxide in the blood is called hypercarbia (hypercapnia). It occurs when ventilation fails to remove CO2 produced by metabolism, so arterial CO2 rises. This term specifically labels the gas abnormality, whereas the other options are not definitions of high CO2: cyanosis is bluish skin from low oxygen saturation, a pulmonary embolism is a clot blocking blood flow in the lungs, and oxygen therapy is a treatment to raise blood oxygen levels. Remember that CO2 retention also pushes the body toward respiratory acidosis, since CO2 forms carbonic acid in blood.

Elevated carbon dioxide in the blood is called hypercarbia (hypercapnia). It occurs when ventilation fails to remove CO2 produced by metabolism, so arterial CO2 rises. This term specifically labels the gas abnormality, whereas the other options are not definitions of high CO2: cyanosis is bluish skin from low oxygen saturation, a pulmonary embolism is a clot blocking blood flow in the lungs, and oxygen therapy is a treatment to raise blood oxygen levels. Remember that CO2 retention also pushes the body toward respiratory acidosis, since CO2 forms carbonic acid in blood.

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