What causes the "respiratory acidosis" condition?

Respiratory acidosis occurs when there is an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the blood, primarily due to inadequate ventilation. This insufficient ventilation can be the result of various conditions that impair the respiratory system's ability to remove carbon dioxide effectively. In cases of impaired lung function, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe asthma, the lungs are unable to ventilate adequately, leading to the retention of carbon dioxide. This buildup of carbon dioxide can result in a lowered blood pH, which characterizes respiratory acidosis.

Other options are not valid in causing respiratory acidosis. For instance, excessive ventilation would typically lead to respiratory alkalosis due to the increased elimination of carbon dioxide. An increased oxygen supply alone does not affect carbon dioxide retention directly, and excessive loss of carbon dioxide would also not lead to respiratory acidosis, as it would decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood, potentially causing respiratory alkalosis instead. Understanding the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body is critical in recognizing how respiratory acidosis develops in various clinical situations.