Acid-Base Physiology Flashcards
Acid-base balance is concerned with maintaining?
a normal hydrogen ion concentration in the body fluid
How is normal acid-base balance achieved?
- by utilization of buffers in ECF and ICF
- by respiratory mechanisms that excrete CO2
- by renal mechanisms that reabsorb bicarbonate and secrete hydrogen ions
The hydrogen ion concentration of the body fluids is extremely ____.
low
As H+ concentration increases, pH _____.
decreases
Do equal changes in pH reflect equal changes in H+ concentration? Why or why not?
No, because the relationship between the 2 is logarithmic
What is normal pH range?
7.37 - 7.42
When arterial pH is less than 7.37 it is called what?
acidemia
When arterial pH is greater than 7.42 it is called what?
alkalemia
What are the 3 mechanisms that contribute to maintaining pH in the normal range?
- buffering of H+ in both ECF and ICF
- respiratory compensation
- renal compensation
Is arterial pH slightly acidic or alkaline?
alkaline (7.4)
What are the 2 forms of blood acid?
- CO2 (volatile acid)
- fixed (nonvolatile)
Why is CO2 considered a volatile acid?
Because it easily combines with H2O to form H2CO3 which can then be dissociated into H+ and HCO3 and travel through the blood.
In the lungs it occurs in reverse, CO2 is regenerated and then expired
What results in the production of fixed acid?
Catabolism of proteins and phospholipids
What type of acid is produced when proteins are metabolized?
sulfuric acid
What type of acid is produced when phospholipids are metabolized?
phosphoric acid
What are the 7 fixed acids that can be produced in certain pathophysiologic states?
- β-hydroxybutyric acid
- acetoacetic acid
- lactic acid
- formic acid
- salicyclic acid
- glycolic acid
- oxalic acid
Both β-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid are produced in what pathology?
diabetes mellitus
When is lactic acid produced?
During strenuous exercise or when the tissues are hypoxic
How are salicyclic acid, glycolic acid, and oxalic acid introduced into the body?
They are ingested
The overproduction or ingestion of fixed acids causes what?
metabolic acidosis
What is the major difference between volatile and nonvolatile acids?
- volatile acids do not have to be buffered
- nonvolatile acids must be buffered in the body fluids until they can be excreted by the kidneys
What is a buffer?
A mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base with its conjugate acid
A buffer solution resists a change in what?
pH
What equation is used to calculate the pH of a buffered solution?
the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
pH = pK + log ([A-] / [HA])
What is [A-]?
the concentration of the base form of buffer
What is [HA]?
the concentration of the acid form of buffer
What is pK?
A characteristic value for a buffer pair.
It equals -log of the equilibrium constant (K)
Strong acids (HCl) are more dissociated into H+ and A-, therefore they have ____ equilibrium constants (K) and ____ pKs.
high
low
Weak acids (H2CO3) are less dissociated into H+ and A-, therefore they have ____ equilibrium constants (K) and ____ pKs.
low
high
______ curves are graphic representations of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.
Titration
At low pH (acidic) a buffer exists primarily in what form?
HA
At high pH (alkaline) a buffer exists primarily in what form?
A-
What pH equals pK what are the concentrations of HA and A-?
they are equal to each other
What is the significance behind the sigmoidal shape of the titration curve?
It signifies that when inside the buffering range, pH changes are minimal whereas once outside of the effective buffering range pH changes drastically when small amounts of H+ are added or removed
What are the major buffers of the ECF?
Bicarbonate and Phosphate
What is the A- form and the HA form for bicarbonate?
A- form is HCO3-
HA form is CO2
What is the A- form and the HA form for phosphate?
A- form is HPO4-
HA form is H2PO4-
What is the most important extracellular buffer?
HCO3-/CO2
The preeminence of HCO3-/CO2 as an ECF buffer is due to what 3 things?
1) The concentration of HCO3-, is high at 24mEq/L.
2) The pK of the HCO3−/CO2 buffer is 6.1, which is fairly close to the pH of ECF.
3) CO2, the acid form of the buffer, is volatile and can be expired by the lungs
Describe the reaction that occurs when HCl is added to the ECF
H+ combines with some of the HCO3- to form H2CO3. H2CO3 then dissociates into CO2 and H2O, both of which are expired by the lungs. The result is that blood pH does not decrease as drastically.
Inorganic ______ also serves as a buffer.
phosphate
What is the pK for HCO3-/CO2?
6.1
The linear portion of the titration curve for HCO3-/CO2 extends from ___ - ___.
5.1 - 7.1
What is the pK for HPO2/H2PO4?
6.8
The linear portion of the titration curve for HPO2/H2PO4 extends from ___ - ___.
5.8 to 7.8