5 - Acid Base Regulation by the Kidney I Flashcards
What is a buffer?
A buffer is a solution of a weak acid and its conjugate base - resists changes in pH
What is the major buffer system in the blood?
The bicarbonate buffer system is the major buffer system operating in the blood
Hemoglobin also plays important role here
What equation allows you to calculate the degree of dissociation of a weak acid in a given pH?
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation allows one to calculate the degree of dissociation of a weak acid at a given pH
What is the H-H equation?
pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA])
where HA is the weak acid and A- is the conjugate base
What is the H-H equation for the bicarbonate buffer system specifically?
pH = 6.1 + log ([HCO3-]/(0.03)xPCO2)
KNOW THIS ***
Why is acid base balance needed in the first place?
Typical American diet generates 50 - 100 mmol of H+ per day ***
- Oxidation of nutrients generates CO2
- Oxidation of methionine/cysteine
- Some phosphate-containing compounds
- Metabolism of glutamate/aspartate
Describe the formation of carbonic acid increasing pH
- Oxidation of nutrients generates CO2
- This forms carbonic acid
- This is volatile and needs to be removed as CO2 by lungs
Describe the formation of sulfuric acid increasing pH
- Oxidation of methionine/cysteine and other sulfur-containing compounds form sulfuric acid
- This is non-volatile
Describe the formation of phosphoric acid increasing pH
- Some phosphate-containing compounds form phosphoric acid
- This is non-volatile
Describe what glutamate and aspartate do to pH
Metabolism of glutamate/aspartate and use of certain organic anions generates base
Describe the state of respiratory acidosis
- hypoventilation (not blowing off enough CO2)
- increased PCO2
- point on normal buffer slope below pH 7.4
Describe the state of respiratory alkalosis
- hyperventilation (blowing off too much CO2)
- decreased PCO2
- point on normal buffer slope above pH 7.4
Describe the state of metabolic (kidney) acidosis
- loss of HCO3- (too much base lost in the urine)
- point on 40 torr isobar below pH 7.4
Describe the state of metabolic alkalosis
- increase in HCO3- concentration (not losing enough base in the urien)
- point on 40 torr isobar above pH 7.4
What is compensation in terms of acid base balance?
Changes in one buffer component lead to compensatory changes in the other component
- ratio of HCO3- to PCO2 remains close to normal
- pH remains close to normal
Describe respiratory compensation
- hypo or hyperventilation regulates PCO2
- rapid (hours)
Describe renal compensation
- regulation of HCO3- concentration
- regulation of H+ excretion
slow (days)
How do the kidneys carry out this pH regulation function?
- Kidneys regulate H+ excretion and HCO3- reabsorption
- Kidney must dispose of 50 - 100 mmol of H+ per day
How does H+ leave in the urine?
Cannot leave as free H+ (urine pH typically 5.5 to 6.5)
H+ ions removed by
- binding to filtered buffers (H2PO4-)
- binding to NH3 (NH4+)
Describe the elimination of HCO3- in the urine
* Elimination of HCO3- in urine is equivalent to adding H+ to the body*
Cannot eliminate the H+ load unless virtually all filtered HCO3- is reabsorbed