Acid-base balance Flashcards
What is normal plasma pH?
7.35 - 7.45
What is the relative concentration of hydrogen ions in the plasma with a pH of 7.35 - 7.45?
Low concentration of hydrogen ions
What are the three systems involved in controlling plasma pH?
Bicarbonate buffer system
Respiratory system
Kidneys
How is the bicarbonate buffer system set up?
Dissolved carbon dioxide in red blood cells and in plasma
carbon dioxide + water bicarbonate ion + hydrogen ion
What does the direction of the bicarbonate buffer reaction depend on?
The concentrations of reactants and products
How do the concentrations of reactants and products affect the direction of the bicarbonate buffer reaction?
Higher concentration of reactants favours forwards direction
Higher concentration of products favours backwards direction
What is the concentration of bicarbonate ions in the plasma?
25mmol/L
Why is the concentration of bicarbonate ions in the plasma so high?
Because in red blood cells
hydrogen ions bind to haemaglobin, removing them from solution, reducing their concentration
favours forward reaction
more bicarbonate ions produced
more bicarbonate ions transported into plasma
Why do hydrogen ions bind to haemaglobin?
Because hydrogen ions are positively charged and haemaglobin is negatively charged
What is the concentration of carbon dioxide in the plasma?
1.2mmol/L
How does the higher concentration of bicarbonate ions than carbon dioxide in the plasma affect the bicarbonate buffer reaction?
Favours backwards reaction
How does the backwards reaction of the bicarbonate buffer reaction affect plasma pH?
Fewer hydrogen ions produced, more hydrogen ions used up
increases plasma pH to slightly alkaline
What controls the concentration of bicarbonate ions in the plasma?
The kidneys
How do the kidneys control the concentration of bicarbonate ions in the plasma?
Variable reabsorption, production and excretion
What does the concentration of carbon dioxide in the plasma depend on?
pCO2 of plasma
What does the pCO2 of plasma depend on?
pCO2 of alveoli
Metabolism producing CO2
What does the pCO2 of alveoli depend on?
Alveolar ventilation
What is the equation for calculating pH?
Henderson Hasselbach equation
What is the Henderson Hasselbach equation for plasma pH?
pH = pK + log [HCO3-] / [CO2]
What is the value of pK at 37C?
6.1
What is the order in which the systems controlling pH act when there is a change in pH?
Bicarbonate buffer system
then respiratory system
then kidneys
What has happened to hydrogen ion concentration when there is a decrease in pH?
Increased hydrogen ion concentration