Acid- Base Balance Flashcards
Normal H+ concentration
40 nEq/ L
NOTE: In extreme conditions the H+ concentration can vary between 10 and 160 nEq/L, without causing death
What are the normal arterial and venous pH, respectively?
Arterial= 7.4
Venous= 7.35
NOTE: pH is lower, i.e. acidity is higher in venous blood because of the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide, which forms carbonic acid.
A human being can survive for a few hours if the pH is ________ or _______ survival below or above these limits is impossible
6.8; 8.0
What is Gastric pH so low (0.8)?
Because of the parietal cells releasing HCl
How does the body primarily regulate the H+ concentration?
- Chemical Acid- Base buffer systems of body fluids
- Respiratory system
- Kidneys
NOTE: Buffer systems act quickly but the kidneys respond slowly.
The respiratory systems regulates removal of _______.
CO2 (and therefore H2CO3)
A_______ is any substance that can reversibly react with G+.
Buffer
Where is carbonic anhydrase located?
- Lining of alveoli
- Epithelial cells of kidneys
NOTE: Carbonic anhydrase is expressed on both apical and basolateral membranes.
If a strong acid is added to bicarbonate, it is converted to a ___________. However, if a strong base is added to bicarbinate, it is converted to a _________.
Weak acid; Weak base
Increased HCO3- is compensated by increased excretion of HCO3- by the _____________
kidney tubules
Concentration of un-dissociated H2CO3 cannot be measured. Why?
Because it dissociates immediately into CO2 and H20 or to H+ and HCO3-
Bicarbonate Buffer System Titration Curve
When is the pH the same as the pK?
When each component (HCO3- and CO2) consitutes 50% of the total buffer system
When is the buffer system most effective?
In the central part of the curve
NOTE: The buffer system is effective for ± 1.0, beyond which the buffering capacity rapidly decrease
Bicarbonate buffer system is the best buffer in the body. Why?
Because the [HCO3-] and [CO2] are constantly regulated by the kidneys and lungs respectively
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
pH=6.1+log[HCO3-/(0.03∗PCO2)]
Impaired regulation by kidneys result in ________ acidosis and alkalosis.
metabolic
Impaired regulation by lungs result in ________ acidosis and alkalosis.
respiratory
What are the main elements of the phosphate buffer system?
H2PO4− and HPO4
NOTE: The phosphate buffer system is important in buffering intracellular pH.
The phosphate buffer system is especially important in _________
Tubular fluids
NOTE: The pH in tubular fluid is lower than ECF