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I'm studying the respiratory system in FA2008 and am confused in one of the topics...
In the respiratory system, high altitude will shift the O2/diss curve to the right. Also an increase in CO2 will shift the curve to the right....
BUT I thought at high altitudes, you hyperventilate, which would decrease your CO2.....but a decrease in CO2 shifts the curve to the left...???
See my confusion.😕
And it also says that there is an increase in renal excretion of bicarb to compensate for resp. alkalosis (decreased CO2)...
So why does a high altitude give a right shift then and how does it correlate to CO2???
Very confused. If someone could clarify, that would be great!
In the respiratory system, high altitude will shift the O2/diss curve to the right. Also an increase in CO2 will shift the curve to the right....
BUT I thought at high altitudes, you hyperventilate, which would decrease your CO2.....but a decrease in CO2 shifts the curve to the left...???
See my confusion.😕
And it also says that there is an increase in renal excretion of bicarb to compensate for resp. alkalosis (decreased CO2)...
So why does a high altitude give a right shift then and how does it correlate to CO2???
Very confused. If someone could clarify, that would be great!