Acid-Base Balance Flashcards

1
Q

What chemicals constitute the primary pH buffer system in the blood?

A

Bicarbonate and CO2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Normal pH of the blood

A

7.4 (7.35-7.45)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Organs that are largely responsible for pH control

A

Lungs (through PCO2)

Kidneys (through HCO3-)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

donate protons

A

Acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

accept protons

A

Base

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Acid/base that dissociates completely

A

Strong acid/base

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Acid/base that dissociates partially (results in conjugate bases/acids)

A

Weak acid/base

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

a solution that resists pH changes when an acid or base is added

A

Buffer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Metabolic acids (acids other than carbonic acid) are eliminated via the ______

A

Kidneys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the two types of acid that are eliminated by the lung and kidney, respectively?

A

Lung eliminates respiratory acid = CO2

Kidney eliminates metabolic acid = end products of protein, AA, and nucleic acid metabolism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Normal concentration of bicarbonate in blood

A

24 (24-28 mEq/L)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is it beneficial to have our buffer system in an “open” environment

A

If our blood becomes acidic and shifts to producing CO2 from bicarbonate, the CO2 can be blown off in the lungs, allowing for minimal impact from the acid on our pH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is bicarbonate a good biological buffer?

A
  1. Abundant (24-28 mEq/L)
  2. Good in an open system (lungs)
  3. PCO2 and HCO3- can be regulated independently
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Examples of other buffers in body besides bicarbonate

A
  1. Plasma proteins and intracellular proteins w/ acidic and basic residues
  2. Hb (rich in Histamine)
  3. Non-protein buffers
  4. movement of acids and bases between plasma and cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Normal cell (cytosolic) pH

A

6.8

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do the kidneys respond to excess acid?

A

Elimination of acid in urine

Retention of bicarbonate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Buildup of CO2 due to insufficient excretion of CO2 by the lungs; pH falls and PaCO2 rises; Caused by hypoventilation; can be caused by alcohol, drugs, or neuromuscular insult

A

Respiratory acidosis

18
Q

Excess excretion of CO2 due to hyperventilation; pH rises and PaCO2 falls; can be caused by anxiety, drugs, acute asthma and neural dysregulation

A

Respiratory alkalosis

19
Q

Buildup of acids (such as lactic or keto acids) to plasma that consume bicarbonate; CO2 stays normal as lungs compensate; can be caused by hypoxia, exercise, diabetes, diarrhea or renal syndromes

A

Metabolic acidosis

20
Q

Loss of acids (such as lactic or keto acids), resulting in increased plasma bicarbonate; CO2 stays normal as lungs compensate; can be caused by emesis (loss of HCl), diuretics or excess ingestion of bicarbonate

A

Metabolic alkalosis

21
Q

Compensation for respiratory acidosis

A

Renal compensation by increasing secretion of H+ in urine and retaining bicarbonate in plasma

22
Q

Compensation for respiratory alkalosis

A

Renal compensation by decreasing secretion of H+ in urine and decreasing retention of bicarbonate in plasma

23
Q

Compensation for metabolic acidosis

A

Inc. ventilation to decrease CO2 to normalize pH (can progress to Kussmaul breathing)

24
Q

What is the breathing that is first rapid and shallow but progresses to deep labored breathing in severe diabetic keto acidosis?

A

Kussmaul breathing

25
Q

Compensation for metabolic alkalosis

A

Dec. ventilation to inc. CO2 (rarely happens since it can cause hypoxemia)

26
Q

metabolic pH disturbances have compensation at the level of what organ system?

A

respiratory (lungs and rate of ventilation)

27
Q

respiratory pH disturbances have compensation at the level of what organ system?

A

renal (kidneys and selective retention/excretion)

  • much slower than respiratory!!
28
Q

Equation for the Anion Gap

A

Anion gap= Na - (Cl + HCO3-)

29
Q

Normal range of carbon dioxide in blood

A

40 for convention (35-45)

30
Q

Compensation Equation for metabolic acidosis (low HCO3)

A

PaCO2= (1.5 x HCO3) + (8+-2)

31
Q

Indication for mechanical ventilation (invasive positive pressure)

A

Hyoxemic respiratory failure
Hypercarbic respiratory failure
Unstable airway (coma or seizure)

32
Q

Goals of mechanical/invasive ventilation

A

Adequate tidal volume, respiratory rate and oxygen concentration
Prevent alveolar collapse (PEEP)

33
Q

PEEP

A

Positive End Expiratory Pressure

34
Q

Goals for mechanical ventilation in a case of hypoxemia

A

Adjust oxygen concentration and PEEP

35
Q

Goals for mechanical ventilation in a case of hypercarbia

A

Inc. minute ventilation (tidal volume and respiratory rate)

BiPAP (inc. inspiratory pressure to inc. TV)

36
Q

Respiratory acid is aka

A

volatile

37
Q

Metabolic acid is aka

A

non-volatile or fixed

38
Q

What diagram is used to interpret acid-base disturbances?

A

Davenport diagram

  • Be able to read and interpret the diagram!!
39
Q

Davenport diagram shows relationship between plasma

A

pH, HCO3-, and PCO2

40
Q

True or False: Respiratory compensation takes longer than renal (metabolic) compensation

A

False