Acid Base balance

Question 1

Where do we excrete most of our Hydrogen, and what does this make it?

Answer 1

Excrete it in the urine and it makes it VERY acidic

Question 2

What are the units used to measure [H+] ions in the body?

Answer 2

nmol/l (nano mol per litre)

Question 3

Give some examples of buffering systems?

Answer 3

Bicarb
Phosphate
Ammonia
Haem

Question 4

What is imporatn about the bicarbonate buffering system?

Answer 4

You can blow CO2 off - therefore Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is removed (in the form of CO2)

Question 5

What is the only limitation of the bicarbonate system?

Answer 5

The initial concentration of HCO3-

Question 6

What is acidosis?

Answer 6

Increased [H+] or a process tending to cause increased [H+]

too much hydrogen ions

Question 7

What is alkalosis?

Answer 7

Decreased [H+] or a process tending to cause decreased [H+].

Question 8

What is acdiaemia?

Answer 8

Increased [H+]

Question 9

What is alkalaemia?

Answer 9

Decreased [H+]

Question 10

What is pCO2?

Answer 10

The respiratory component

Question 11

What is HCO3-?

Answer 11

The metabolic component

Question 12

What is respiratory acidosis?

Answer 12

Increased [H+] due to increased pCO2

Question 13

What is respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 13

Decreased [H+] due to decreased pCO2

Question 14

What is metabolic acidosis?

Answer 14

Increased [H+] due to decreased HCO3-

Question 15

What is metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 15

Decreased [H+] due to increased HCO3-

Question 16

When would you get respiratory acidosis?

Answer 16

In COPD when there is an inability to blow off CO2 affectively

Question 17

When would you get respiratory alkalosis? (CHECK THIS)

Answer 17

In someone with pneumonia (ADD EXPLANATION)

Question 18

What happens when you have too much H+, and what happens when you have too much CO2?

Answer 18

The lungs blow off more CO2, when you have too much CO2 the kidneys get rid of H+

Question 19

What is that mechanism called?

Answer 19

Compensation

Question 20

Describe compensation in terms of too much H+?

Answer 20

If the problem is too much H+, this mops up HCO3- – so need to lose CO2 to restore ratio to normal

Question 21

Describe compensation in terms of too much CO2?

Answer 21

If the problem is too much CO2, need to lose H+ (and in the process gain/reclaim HCO3-) in order to restore ratio to normal

Question 22

In metabolic disorders does respiratory compensation occur slow or fast?

Answer 22

Respiratory compensation will occur quickly.

Question 23

Describe what happens when the body has too much CO2?

Answer 23

CO2 builds up as the lungs can’t get rid of it some how. So the body needs to excrete more H+ in terms of [HCO3-] in the kidneys.

Question 24

Give some examples of causes of respiratory acidosis?

Answer 24

Choking
Bronchopneumonia
COAD

Question 25

Give some examples of causes of respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 25

Hysterical over breathing
Mechanical over ventilation
Raised intracranial pressure

Question 26

Give some examples of causes of metabolic acidosis?

Answer 26

Impaired H+ excretion
Increased H+ production or ingestion
Loss of HCO3-

Question 27

Give some examples of causes of metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 27

Loss of H+ in vomit
Alkali ingestion
Potassium deficiency

Question 28

In blood gases what would you look at first to identify the problem?

Answer 28

[H+] concentration

• Increased = acidosis
• Decreased = Alkalosis