Acid Base Balance 1 Flashcards
What are metabolic reactions sensitive to in relation to the fluid they occur in?
pH of the fluid:
- Relates to high reactivity of H+ ions with Protons causing changes in configuration and function, especially of enzymes
- Acid/base disturbances lead to all sorts of metabolic disturbances
What is the normal pH of arterialised blood?
- Normal pH of arterialised blood is 7.4, which is a free [H+] of 40 x 10-9moles/L or 40 x 10-6mmoles/L
What is the free hydrogen concentration of normal arterial blood>
- 40 x 10-9moles/L or 40 x 10-6mmoles/L
Does all hydrogen contribute to pH?
No, only free H+ ions
What are some sources of the H+ that the body produces?
- Respiratory acid
- CO2 + H2O ⇔ H2CO3 ⇔ H+ + HCO3-
- Formation of carbonic acid is not normally a net contributor to increased acid because any increase in production causes an increase in ventilation
- Problems occur if lung function is impaired
- Metabolic acid (non-respiratory acid)
- Inorganic acids
- Such as S-containing amino acids, H2SO4 and phosphoric acid is produced from phospholipids
- Organic acids
- Fatty acids, lactic acid
- On a normal diet, there is a net gain to the body of 50-100mmols H+ per day
- Inorganic acids
What is the formula that explains how the body produces H+ from respiratory acid?
CO2 + H20 H2C03 HCO3- + H+
Is formation of carbonic acid usually a net contributor to increased acid?
No because any increased in production causes an increase in ventilaiton
Problems occur if lung function is impaired
What are the 2 different kinds of metabolic acid?
- Inorganic acids
- Such as S-containing amino acids, H2SO4 and phosphoric acid is produced from phospholipids
- Organic acids
- Fatty acids, lactic acid
- On a normal diet, there is a net gain to the body of 50-100mmols H+ per day
What are some examples of inorganic acids that contributes to the body producing H?
- Such as S-containing amino acids, H2SO4 and phosphoric acid is produced from phospholipids
What are examples of organic acids that contributes to the bodies production of H?
- Fatty acids, lactic acid
- On a normal diet, there is a net gain to the body of 50-100mmols H+ per day
What is the net gain of organic acids in terms of H by the body due to a normal diet?
50-100mmoles/L of H+
What is a mjor source of alkalis to the body?
Oxidation of organic anions such as citrate
What minimised changes in pH when H ions are added or removed?
Buffers
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
What is the most important extracellular buffer?
Bicarbonate buffer system
What is the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid in the body in blood with a pH of 7.4?
20:1
What does the quantity of carbonic acid depend on?
Amount of CO2 dissolved in plasma, which depends on solubility of CO2 and PCO2
What is the chemical formula for carbonic acid?
H2CO3
What is the chemical formula for bicarbonate?
HCO3-
What does the amount of CO2 dissolved in plasma depend on?
Solubility of CO2 and PCO2
What is the solubility of CO2 in blood at 37oC?
0.03mmoles/L/mmHg
What is PCO2 in blood at 37oC?
0.0225mmoles/L/kPa
What is the normal PCO2?
40mmHg, 5.3kPa
What is [carbonic acid] at normal PCO2?
1.2mmol/L
What is the normal [bicarbonate] at normal PCO2?
24mmoles/L
What is normal [bicarbonate] known as?
“Stnadard bicarbonate”
What is the normal range of pH?
7.37-7.43
What range of pH is compatible with life?
7-7.6
What is the normal range of PCO2?
4.8-5.9kPa, 36-44mmHg
What is the normal range of [bicarbonate]?
22-26mmoles/L
What can the Henderson-Hasselbatch equation be more simply written as in terms of the bicarbonate system?
Explain the mechanism by which the bicarbonate buffer system acts?
- Increase in ECF H+ drives the reaction right, so some of the additional H ions are removed from solution and therefore a change in pH is reduced
- If this was an ordinary buffer system then as increasing H drives the reaction right, the increase in products would begin to push the reaction back to reach a new equilibrium position, where only some additional H ions are buffered
- But its not an ordinary buffer system due to ventilation, increasing the buffer capacity of bicarbonate
Does an increase in H lead to increased or decreased ventilation?
Increased ventilation
Does a decrease in H lead to increased or decreased ventilation?
Decreased ventilation