Acid Base Equilibria

Question 1

what are the two organs that maintain the control of bicarbonate ions and CO2?

Answer 1

kidneys and lungs

Question 2

what is the normal physiologic pH?

Answer 2

7.4

Question 3

what are the two kinds of acids?

Answer 3

respiratory and metabolic

Question 4

what does respiratory acid come from?

Answer 4

increased CO2 leads to carbonic acid that can spontaneously dissociate into H and bicarbonate

Question 5

how do Co2 elimination and production compare when pH is normal?

Answer 5

it means the elimination and production of CO2 is likely equal

Question 6

what products contribute to metabolic acid production?

Answer 6

end products of protein, amino acid, nucleic acid metabolism

Question 7

what is an important molecule in the blood that serves as a buffer?

Answer 7

hemoglobin

Question 8

what is the pH cutoff for acidosis?

Answer 8

7.35

Question 9

what is the pH cutoff for alkalosis?

Answer 9

7.45

Question 10

what specifically causes respiratory acidosis?

Answer 10

insufficient excretion of CO2 by lungs

Question 11

high or low breathing rates lead to acidosis?

Answer 11

low…hypoventilation!

Question 12

what specifically causes respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 12

excess excretion of CO2 by lungs

Question 13

high or low breathing rates lead to alkalosis?

Answer 13

high…hyperventilation

Question 14

name four common causes of respiratory acidosis

Answer 14

alcohol
drugs
head injury
lung disease causing CO2 retention

Question 15

name three common causes of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 15

anxiety
drugs
acute asthma

Question 16

which organ is the main control of CO2 and which organ is main control of HCO3?

Answer 16

lung for co2

kidney for HCO3

Question 17

what is the acid in the equation Henderson for blood pH? what is the base?

Answer 17

CO2 acid

bicarbonate base

Question 18

what is the henderson hasselbach equation for blood pH?

Answer 18

pH=pKa+log(bicarbonate/acid)

Question 19

what is the normal range for bicarbonate ions?

Answer 19

24-28mEq/L

Question 20

are bicarbonate ions the only buffer in the blood?

Answer 20

NO..many others like Hb and acidic and basic residues that can accept/donate protons

Question 21

what is the ever important exchange that can occur in the kidneys that leads to retention of a molecule and excretion of a molecule? what are these molecules

Answer 21

H+ can be exchanged for bicarbonate and H+ is excreted and bicarbonate is retained

Question 22

what is the cause of respiratory acidosis?

Answer 22

too much CO2 leads to more production of H+ and bicarbonate ions

Question 23

what is the cause of respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 23

too much CO2 expelled and H+ and bicarbonate ions are used up to replace the CO2 so you get higher pH

Question 24

in metabolic alkalosis and acidosis, does the CO2 stay the same or does it go outside normal limits?

Answer 24

the CO2 will be normal in metabolic acidosis and alkalosis

Question 25

in metabolic acidosis what molecule is affected? what direction does it change?

Answer 25

bicarbonate ions are decreased as they are used up by metabolic acids

Question 26

in metabolic alkalosis what molecule is affected? what direction does it change?

Answer 26

bicarbonate is at an increased level because there are no metabolic acids that are acting to take it up

Question 27

if you have diarrhea, what ion are you losing? what type of acid base imbalance does this put you at a risk for?

Answer 27

bicarbonate ions are being lost…at risk for metabolic acidosis

Question 28

if you have emesis, what important ion are you losing? what type of acid base imbalance does this put you at a risk for?

Answer 28

losing HCL…so acid going down, bicarbonate will be increased relatively and at risk for metabolic alkalosis

Question 29

name five things that can cause metabolic acidosis

Answer 29

alcohol
hypoxia
exercise
diabetes
diarrhea

Question 30

name three things that can cause metabolic alkalosis

Answer 30

excessive emesis
diuretics
ingestion of bicarbonates

Question 31

what is the kidney response to respiratory acidosis?

Answer 31

increase H+ excretion and increase bicarbonat retention

Question 32

what is the kidney response to respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 32

decrease H+ excretion and increase bicarbonate excretion

Question 33

with respiratory acid base imbalances, what organ compensates? is this slow or fast?

Answer 33

the kidney…slowly

Question 34

with metabolic acid base imbalances, what organ compensates? is this slow or fast?

Answer 34

lungs…fast

Question 35

in metabolic acidosis, how does the lung change?

Answer 35

increase ventilation and expiration of CO2 to drive those H+ out

Question 36

in metabolic alkalosis how does the lung change?

Answer 36

decrease ventilation to increase CO2..but this doesnt happen much because of lowering O2

Question 37

what is the equation for the anion gap?

Answer 37

Na-(Cl+HCO3)

Question 38

what is the normal value of the anion gap?

Answer 38

3-16