Chapter 44 Flashcards
What does an acid do?
-donates a hydrogen
What does a base do?
-accepts a hydrogen
What is pH? What does low/high mean?
- the concentration of hydrogen ions
- low: acidic (more H)
- high: alkaline/basic (less H)
What is the pH range? What is the normal blood range?
- 0-14
- 7.35-7.40 (alkaline)
What are the three mechanisms of maintaining pH?
- buffer system
- exhalation of CO2
- kidney excretion of H
What do buffers do?
-prevent any drastic change in a solution of pH
What are the three types of buffer systems?
- protein buffer system
- carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system
- phosphate buffer system
What is the protein buffer system?
- most abundant in ICF and plasma; hemoglobin and albumin
- when a strong acid is given, extra hydrogen is picked up by amino acids
- when a strong base is given, extra OH is converted to water
What is the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system?
- if a strong acid is given, bicarbonate will pick up and extra H
- if a strong base is added, it turns into water
What is the phosphate buffer system?
- if a strong acid is given, extra H is picked up by the base
- if a strong base is given, extra OH is turned into water
What does increased CO2 in the blood cause?
-more CO2 = lower pH
Where does secretion of hydrogen in the kidneys take place?
-convoluted tubule and collecting ducts
When do the kidneys secrete more H ions?
-if the pH is low
What does alkalosis mean?
- blood pH is too high (basic)
- above 7.4
What dies acidosis mean?
- blood pH is too low
- below 7.35
What happens with alkalosis?
- increased neural synapses
- spasms
- twitching
What happens with acidosis?
- decreased neural synapses
- low energy
- confusion
- weakness
What does metabolic alkalosis mean? What can it be caused by?
- not enough acid in the blood
- vomiting
- drugs/ too many antacids
How can you treat metabolic alkalosis?
- breathing into a paper bag
- IV solutions
What does respiratory alkalosis mean? What can it be caused by?
- not enough carbon dioxide
- hyperventilation
- high altitude
- pulmonary diseases
- severe anxiety/stress
How can you treat respiratory alkalosis?
- breath into a paper bag
- inhale CO2
What does metabolic acidosis mean? What can it be caused by?
- too much acid in the blood
- diarrhea
- accumulation of acid
- lack of kidney excretion
- untreated diabetes (ketoacidosis)
How can you treat metabolic acidosis?
- hyperventilation
- IV solutions
What does respiratory acidosis mean? What can it be caused by?
- too much carbon dioxide
- decreased exhalation
- emphysema
- pulmonary edema
- airway obstruction
How can you treat respiratory acidosis?
-hyperventilation
