Acid/Base Balance

Question 1

Why acid base balance is important in body

Answer 1

Must maintain normal pH for chemical reactions

Question 2

___ produced in large amounts as byproduct of bodily chemical reactions

Answer 2

Acids (H+)

Question 3

Normal blood pH of d/c

Answer 3

7.4 +/- .05

May fluctuate to 7.2-7.6

Question 4

pH of acidosis and alkalosis

Answer 4

Acidosis= <7.3 
Alkalosis= >7.8

Question 5

Primary buffering system in the body to control the acid byproducts from chemical reactions

Answer 5

Bicarbonate-Carbonic Acid system

Question 6

How bicarbonate-carbonic acid system works to buffer acid byproducts

Answer 6

H+ is combined w bicarbonate (HCO3) reserves, made into carbonic acid, made into CO2 and H2O, excreted by lungs
Some H also excreted by kidneys

Question 7

2 organs most responsible for acid/base balance and buffering acids

Answer 7

Lungs and kidneys

Question 8

Acidosis is caused by ____ acid produced and ___ bicarbonate saved

Answer 8

Too much acid, not enough bicarb saved (for H+ excretion)

Question 9

Diseases that cause acidosis (not respiratory)

Answer 9

Extreme diarrhea (bicarb lost), kidney disease (bicarb not being reserved), diabetes mellitus (ketoacids produces)

Question 10

Why diabetes mellitus can cause acidosis

Answer 10

No insulin, can’t use glucose, protein and fat broken down, makes ketoacids

Question 11

Respiratory disease that cause acidosis

Answer 11

Any disease that impairs resp function Bc can’t exhale properly to remove H+ ions
(Pneumonia, asthma, lung disease)

Question 12

Clinical signs of acidosis caused by impaired respirations

Answer 12

Panting: trying to compensate for inability to excrete H/ CO2 thro lungs

Question 13

alkalosis is caused by ____ too much bicarbonate and ____ too much acid

Answer 13

Save too much bicarb it excrete too much acid

Question 14

Causes of alkalosis

Answer 14

Vomiting ( loss of HCl), hyperventilation (fever, panting, high altitudes w little O2) too much CO2 (H) excreted

Question 15

Sample w use to test acid base balance

Answer 15

Blood pH, not urine

Question 16

How we measure CO2 levels when measuring acid base balance

Answer 16

Measure from arterial blood from carotid artery, make sure no deadspace in collection tube

Question 17

How we measure bicarb levels in blood

Answer 17

Calculated from CO2 levels in arterial blood

Question 18

What is an anion gap

Answer 18

A difference in ratio of cations:anions

Normally pos and neg are equal

Question 19

Anion gap is used to detect

Answer 19

Acidosis

Question 20

Anion:cation ratio is maintained by

Answer 20

Blood buffer system

Question 21

An increase in anion gap may be caused by

Answer 21

Ketoacidosis or renal failure (pH too low )

Question 22

When we would test Acid base status

Answer 22

Prolonged/severe v/d, renal failure, resp disease, Addison’s disease (also causes acidosis), diabetes mellitus (ketoacids)

Question 23

How to treat anion gap/ acid base disturbances

Answer 23

Fluid therapy to replace electrolytes and balance pH