Respiratory compensation is the modulation by the brainstem respiratory centers, which involves altering alveolar ventilation to try to bring the plasma pH back to its normal value (7.4) in order to keep the acid-base balance in the body.

It usually occurs within minutes to hours and is much faster than renal compensation (takes several days), but has less ability to restore normal values.

[citation needed] In metabolic acidosis, chemoreceptors sense a changed acid-base balance with a plasma pH of lesser than normal (<7.4).

[1] The amount of respiratory compensation in metabolic acidosis can be estimated using Winters' formula.

[4] In metabolic alkalosis, chemoreceptors sense a deranged acid-base balance with a plasma pH of greater than normal (>7.4).