Acid-Base balance Flashcards
what is the normal pH of the body?
tightly controlled around 7.35 and 7.45 pH
what does normal metabolism result in the production of?
results in the production of hydrogen ions, causing the normal body metabolism to become ACIDIC
if the body’s metabolism is becoming more acidic, what 2 things help body avoid a decrease in pH?
1) increase the BUFFERING of acids
2) excreting acids
why is bicarbonate as a buffer so important?
Because it NEVER REACHES EQUILIBRIUM, therefore, it prevents the increase of metabolic acids.
if it involves pCO2, is the component respiratory or metabolic?
RESPIRATORY
if it involves HCO3-, is the component respiratory or metabolic?
METABOLIC
what does acidosis refers to?
an INCREASE in H+
or
a process tending to cause an increase in H+
what does alkalosis refer to?
a DECREASE IN H+
or
a process tending to cause a decrease in H+
what is acidaemia?
increase in H+
what is alkalaemia?
decrease in H+
what does respiratory acidosis mean?
pH low
Due to;
- normal HCO3
- PCO2 high
what does metabolic acidosis mean?
pH low
Due to;
- normal PCO2
- low HCO3
what does respiratory alkalosis mean?
pH high
Due to;
- normal HCO3
- low PCO2
what does metabolic alkalosis mean?
pH high
Due to;
- normal PCO2
- high HCO3
H+ + HCO3- ARROW H2CO3 ARROW CO2 + H20
What happens if theres too much H+?
- too much H+
- all the buffer, HCO3, is used up trying to reduce the levels of H+
- causes HCO3- levels to decrease
= metabolic acidosis
H+ + HCO3- ARROW H2CO3 ARROW CO2 + H20
What happens if theres too much CO2?
- too much CO2
- lungs are unable to blow off CO2 in the normal way
- increase in H+
= respiratory acidosis
H+ + HCO3- ARROW H2CO3 ARROW CO2 + H20
What happens if theres too little H+?
- too little H+
- HCO3- levels increase to compensate
= metabolic alkalosis
H+ + HCO3- ARROW H2CO3 ARROW CO2 + H20
What happens if theres too little CO2?
- too little CO2
- H+ ions decrease
= respiratory alkalosis
causes of respiratory acidosis?
- choking
- bronchopneumonia
- COAD = chronic obstructive airway disease
causes of respiratory alkalosis?
- hysterical over-breathing
- mechanical over-ventilation
- raised intracranial pressure
causes of metabolic acidosis?
- impaired H+ excretion
- increased H+ production or ingestion
- loss of HCO3-
causes of metabolic alkalosis?
- loss of H+ in vomit
- alkali ingestion
- potassium deficiency
how do the kidneys compensate for decreases in pH (i.e. more acidic)?
- they increase the excretion of H+ ions by conserving bicarbonate
