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Multiple Choice
Breathing too fast (hyperventilation) can decrease levels of CO2 in the blood. This is known as:
A
Hypocapnia.
B
Hypoxemia.
C
Hyperinhalation.
D
Hyperpnea.
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the key terms related to blood gases and breathing. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood are tightly regulated by the respiratory system.
Step 2: Recognize that hyperventilation means breathing too fast or too deeply, which causes excessive expulsion of CO2 from the blood.
Step 3: Know that a decrease in CO2 levels in the blood is called hypocapnia. The prefix 'hypo-' means low, and 'capnia' refers to carbon dioxide.
Step 4: Differentiate hypocapnia from other terms: hypoxemia refers to low oxygen in the blood, hyperinhalation is not a standard medical term, and hyperpnea means increased depth and rate of breathing but does not specify CO2 levels.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct term for decreased CO2 levels due to hyperventilation is hypocapnia.