ACID AND BASE BALANCE Flashcards
proton donor (the substance that liberates hydrogen ion)
acid
proton acceptor (the substance that accepts hydrogen ion)
base
concentration of free hydrogen ion in the body
pH 7.4
normal H+ concentration in the extracellular fluid (ECF)
38 to 42
nM/L.
An increase in H+ ion concentration ____ the pH (acidosis)
decreases
reduction in H+
concentration ____ the pH (alkalosis)
increases
An increase in pH by onefold requires a ____ in H+ concentration
tenfold decrease
indirect method determine the acid-base status in the ECF
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
bicarbonate ions
π»πΆπ3β
π»πΆπ3β
bicarbonate ions
pH of plasma is also determined by using
pH meter
Normal acid-base ratio
1:20
1 CO2 (from π»2πΆπ2): 20 π»πΆπ3β
two types of acids are produced in the body
- Volatile acids
- Non-volatile acids.
are derived from πΆπ2
Volatile acids
Large quantity of πΆπ2 is produced during the
metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. This πΆπ2 is not a threat because it is almost totally
removed through expired air by lungs.
produced during the metabolism of other nutritive substances
such as proteins
Non-volatile Acids
real threat
sulfuric acid is produced during the metabolism of sulfur containing amino acids such as
cysteine and methionine
is produced during the metabolism of lysine,
arginine and histidine.
hydrochloric acid
the body has three mechanisms
to regulate acid-base status:
- Acid-base buffer system, which binds free H+
- Respiratory mechanism, which eliminates πΆπ2
- Renal mechanism, which excretes H+ and conserves the bases (HCO3 β)
the fastest mechanism and it
readjusts the pH within seconds.
acid-base buffer system
mechanism does it in minutes
respiratory mechanism
slower and it takes few hours to few days to bring the pH back to normal
renal mechanism
most powerful mechanism than the other two in
maintaining the acidbase balance of the body fluids
renal mechanism