Gastric Carbon Dioxide Ventilation During Respiratory Acidosis

This is an editorial medical illustration showing the circumstances during which the subject undergoes respiratory acidosis while in a low oxygen / high carbon dioxide environment. During this reflexive event (controlled in the caudal solitary complex of the brain stem), the stomach will start to ventilate (remove from the body) high carbon dioxide levels in the blood by way of a chemical process (shown in the chemical equation) within the parietal cells (cell in the inset) in the lining of the stomach. Submitted for use in Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology.