ABG

Question 1

What effect does a greater amount of H+ ions have on pH?

Answer 1

Lower pH

Question 2

Why must the acidity of blood be tightly regulated?

Answer 2

Marked changes will alter the 3D structure of proteins (enzymes, hormones, protein channels)

Question 3

What is a base?

Answer 3

An anionic molecule capable of reversingly binding protons

Question 4

Describe the buffering capacity of blood

Answer 4

Has an enormous buffering capacity that can react almost immediately to imbalances

Question 5

Is the compensatory mechanism for ventilation changes to pH faster or slower than the compensatory mechanisms for metabolic changes?

Answer 5

Ventilatory changes stimulate rapid compensatory response whereas changes in HCO3- and H+ retention/secretion in the kidneys can stimulate a slow compensatory response

Question 6

What does pO2 indicate?

Answer 6

How much oxygen is dissolved in the arterial blood

Question 7

What does Base Excess (BE) indicate?

Answer 7

Describes the concentration of bases, predominantly bicarbonate with the expected concentration (exact match = 0)