Acid-Base balance

Question 1

what pH will normal urine be?

Answer 1

• profoundly acidic

- due to high concentration of H+ ions being excreted

Question 2

why is bicarbonate so important?

Answer 2

• in the bicarbomae system, carbonic acid is removed as C02 and so the only limit is initial concentration of HC03-
• H+ + HCO3- > H2CO3 >CO2 + H2O

Question 3

what is the terminology of the acid-base equation?

Answer 3

• pC02 = the respiratory component
• HC03- = the metabolic component
• acidaemia/ acidosis = increase in H+ conc.
• alkalaemia/alkalosis = increase in H+ conc.
• respiratory acidosis/alkalosis = due to increase/decrease in pCO2
• metabolic acidosis/alkalosis = due to a decrease/increase in HC03_

Question 4

what happens in compensation?

Answer 4

• When you’ve got too much H+, the lungs blow off CO2

- When you’ve got too much CO2, the kidneys get rid of H

Question 5

what are some causes of acidosis?

Answer 5

• choking
• beonchopneumonia
• COPD
• impaired H+ excretion
• increased H+ production or ingestion
• loss of HCO3-

Question 6

what are some causes of alkalosis?

Answer 6

• hysterical overbreathing
• mechanical over-ventilation
• raised intracranial pressure
• loss of H+ in vomit
• alkali ingestion
• potassium deficiency