Acid-base balance · Physiology

In uncompensated metabolic acidosis, arterial blood gases show:

  1. Low pH and high CO₂
  2. Low pH and low bicarbonate
  3. High pH and low CO₂
  4. Normal pH with low bicarbonate
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Correct answer: Low pH and low bicarbonate

The primary disturbance is reduced bicarbonate. This leads to decreased pH before respiratory compensation occurs.

Difficulty: Medium Question 17 of 20

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