C4 - Section 3. Disorders of Acid-Base balance

Question 1

Normal arterial blood pH is restricted to a very narrow range of (?).

Answer 1

7.35 to 7.45

Question 2

A person who has a blood pH below 7.35 is considered to be in acidosis (actually, (?) because blood is not truly acidic until its pH drops below 7), and a continuous blood pH below 7.0 can be fatal.

Answer 2

“physiological acidosis,”

Question 3

Acidosis has several symptoms, including (?), and the individual can become (?).

Answer 3

headache and confusion

lethargic and easily fatigued

Question 4

A person who has a blood pH above 7.45 is considered to be in (?), and a pH above 7.8 is fatal.

Answer 4

alkalosis

Question 5

Some symptoms of alkalosis include (?).

Answer 5

cognitive impairment (which can progress to unconsciousness), tingling or numbness in the extremities, muscle twitching and spasm, and nausea and vomiting

Question 6

Both acidosis and alkalosis can be caused by either (?).

Answer 6

metabolic or respiratory disorders

Question 7

As discussed earlier in this chapter, the concentration of (?) in the blood is dependent on the level of CO2 in the body and the amount of CO2 gas exhaled through the lungs.

Answer 7

carbonic acid

Question 8

Thus, the respiratory contribution to acid-base balance is usually discussed in terms of (?) (rather than of carbonic acid).

Answer 8

CO2

Question 9

Remember that a molecule of carbonic acid is lost for every molecule of (?), and a molecule of carbonic acid is formed for every molecule of (?).

Answer 9

CO2 exhaled

CO2 retained

Question 10

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS
Central Nervous System

Answer 10

Headache
Sleepiness
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Coma

Question 11

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS
Respiratory System

Answer 11

shortness of breath
Coughing

Question 12

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS

Heart

Answer 12

Arrhythmia
Increased heart rate

Question 13

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS

Muscular Svstem

Answer 13

Seizures
Weakness

Question 14

SYMPTOMS OF ACIDOSIS

Digestive System

Answer 14

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Question 15

SYMPTOMS OF ALKALOSIS

Central Nervous System

Answer 15

confusion
Light-headedness
Stupor
Coma

Question 16

SYMPTOMS OF ALKALOSIS

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 16

Heart
Arrhythmia
Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet

Question 17

SYMPTOMS OF ALKALOSIS

Muscular Svstem

Answer 17

Seizures
Weakness
Muscular System
Twitching
Prolonged spasms

Question 18

SYMPTOMS OF ALKALOSIS

Digestive System

Answer 18

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Question 19

Digestive System

Answer 19

Nausea
Vomiting

Question 20

Normal Values:

pH:
CO2:
Bicarbonate:

Answer 20

7.35 -7.45

35 - 45 mmHg

22 - 26%

Question 21

Primary Bicarbonate Deficiency

Answer 21

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 22

Occurs when the blood is too acidic (pH below 7.35) due to too little bicarbonate, a condition called primary bicarbonate deficiency.

Answer 22

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 23

At the normal pH of 7.40, the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid buffer is 20:1.

Answer 23

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 24

If a person’s blood pH drops below 7.35, then he or she is in metabolic acidosis.

Answer 24

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 25

The most common cause of metabolic acidosis is the presence of organic acids or excessive ketones in the blood.

Answer 25

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 26

Primary Bicarbonate Excess

Answer 26

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 27

Is the opposite of metabolic acidosis.

Answer 27

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 28

It occurs when the blood is too alkaline (pH above 7.45) due to too much bicarbonate (called primary bicarbonate excess).

Answer 28

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 29

A transient excess of bicarbonate in the blood can follow ingestion of excessive amounts of bicarbonate, citrate, or antacids for conditions such as stomach acid reflux— known as heartburn.

Answer 29

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 30

Cushing’s disease, which is the chronic hypersecretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior pituitary gland, can cause chronic metabolic alkalosis.

Answer 30

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 31

The oversecretion of ACTH results in elevated aldosterone levels and an increased loss of potassium by urinary excretion.

Answer 31

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 32

Other causes of metabolic alkalosis include the loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach through vomiting, potassium depletion due to the use of diuretics for hypertension, and the excessive use of laxatives.

Answer 32

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 33

Primary Carbonic acid/ CO2 Excess

Answer 33

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 34

Occurs when the blood is overly acidic due to an excess of carbonic acid, resulting from too much CO2 in the blood.

Answer 34

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 35

Respiratory acidosis can result from anything that interferes with respiration, such as pneumonia, emphysema, or congestive heart failure.

Answer 35

Respiratory Acidosis

Question 36

Primary Carbonic acid/CO2 Deficiency

Answer 36

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 37

Occurs when the blood is overly alkaline due to a deficiency in carbonic acid and CO2 levels in the blood.

Answer 37

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 38

This condition usually occurs when too much CO2 is exhaled from the lungs, as occurs in hyperventilation, which is breathing that is deeper or more frequent than normal.

Answer 38

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 39

An elevated respiratory rate leading to hyperventilation can be due to extreme emotional upset or fear, fever, infections, hypoxia, or abnormally high levels of catecholamines, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Answer 39

Respiratory Alkalosis

Question 40

Surprisingly, aspirin overdose—salicylate toxicity—can result in respiratory alkalosis as the body tries to compensate for initial acidosis.

Answer 40

Respiratory Alkalosis