When the body's blood pH is too high, the medulla responds by sending signals to the lungs to decrease the breathing rate. This is a crucial mechanism in maintaining homeostasis, which is the body's ability to regulate and maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.
By decreasing the breathing rate, the lungs retain more carbon dioxide in the body. Carbon dioxide reacts with water in the body to form carbonic acid, which helps lower the blood pH back to a normal level. This process is known as respiratory acidosis compensation.
Therefore, option A, "It sends signals to the lungs to decrease the breathing rate," is the correct response to how the medulla responds when the body's blood pH is too high. It's important for the body to regulate blood pH within a narrow range to ensure proper physiological functioning.
