Control of Acid/Base Flashcards
What is the normal range of plasma pH?
7.38-7.46
What is the normal H+ concentration of the plasma?
37-43nmol/L
When are the effects of acidaemia severe?
Below pH 7.1
When are the effects of acidaemia life threatening?
Below pH 7.0
What are the effects of acidaemia?
- Reduced enzyme function
- Reduced glycolysis
- Reduced cardiac and skeletal muscle contractility
- Reduced hepatic function
- Increased plasma potassium
What is the effect of alkalaemia on calcium salts?
Reduces their solubility
What is the result of the reduced solubility of calcium salts in alkalaemia?
Means that free Ca2+ leaves the ECF
How does free Ca2+ leave the ECF?
Binds to bone and protein
What is the result of free Ca2+ leaving the ECF in alkalaemia?
Results in hypocalcaemia
What is the effect of hypocalcaemia?
Increases the excitability of nerves
What happens at pH > 7.45?
Parasthesia
Tetany
What is tetany?
Uncontrolled muscle contractions
What happens at pH > 7.55?
45% mortality
What happens at pH > 7.65?
80% mortality
Describe the H+ ion concentration of the ECF?
It is very low
What is the result of the H+ concentration of the ECF being very low?
The addition of small amounts of acid changes the concentration and therefore the pH dramatically
What prevents the addition of small amounts of acid to the ECF changing the pH dramatically?
The carbon dioxide/hydrogen carbonate system acts as an important buffer for the H⁺ ions
What reaction occurs in the carbon dioxide/hydrogen carbonate system?
H2O+CO2 H2CO3 (carbonic acid) H+ + HCO3-
H+ reacts with OH to produce water
What is the extent to which the reversible reaction proceeds in the carbon dioxide/hydrogen carbonate system determined by?
The ratio of pCO2 of plasma to [HCO3-]
What is the pCO2 of plasma controlled by?
Lungs
What is HCO3- created by?
Largely RBC
What is the concentration of plasma HCO3- controlled by?
Kidneys
What is the normal [HCO3-]:pCO2 ratio?
20:1
What is the result of anything that alters the [HCO3-]:pCO2 ratio?
It also alters the pH
What happens in respiratory alkalaemia?
As hyperventilation leads to hypocapnia (fall in pCO2), the ratio is altered and pH will rise. There is more than 20x the amount of HCO3- than CO2, so relatively more H+ ions are buffered, causing the pH increase
What pH is considered respiratory alkalaemia?
> 7.45
Why must is be respiratory alkalaemia if breathing quickly?
If lungs were fine, breathing would be slowed to raise pCO2
What happens in respiratory acidaemia?
Hypoventilation leads to hypocapnia. The ratio is altered and pH will fall. There is less than 20x the amount of HCO3- than CO2, so relatively less H+ ions are buffered, causing the pH to decrease
What pH is considered respiratory acidaemia?
<7.35
Why must it be respiratory acidaemia if breathing slowly?
Because if lungs were fine, breathing would be sped up to lower pCO2
What can compensate respiratory alkalosis or acidosis?
Changes in [HCO3-] controlled by the kidney
Why can respiratory acidosis or alkalosis be compensated for by the kidney?
Because the pH is controlled by the ratio, and not absolute values.
How does the kidney control [HCO3-]?
Variable renal excretion/production
What does the kidney do if pCO2 rises?
[HCO3-] rises proportionally to restore pH
What does a rise in [HCO3-] caused by the kidney compensate for?
Respiratory acidosis
What does the kidney do if pCO2 falls?
[HCO3-] falls proportionally to restore pH
What does a fall in [HCO3-] caused by the kidney compensate for?
Respiratory alkalosis
What metabolic processes produce H+ ions?
Metabolism of amino acids or the production of ketones
What happens to metabolically produced H+ ions?
They react with HCO3- to produce CO2 in venous blood
What happens to the CO2 produced by the reaction of metabolically produced H+ ions?
It is breathed out through the lungs
What is the result of the breathing out of the CO2 production by the reaction of metabolically produced H+ ions?
It gives a directly proportional (1mmol acid:1mmol HCO3-) reduction in arterial HCO3-
What is the result of the directly proportional reduction in arterial HCO3- caused by metabolically produced H+?
It alters the [HCO3-]:pCO2 ratio, meaning that less than 20x the amount of HCO3- than CO2. Relatively less H+ ions are buffered, causing a pH decrease
What is it called when metabolically produced H+ ions cause a pH decrease?
Metabolic acidosis
What pH is considered metabolic acidosis?
<7.35
What can compensate for metabolic acidosis or alkalosis?
The lungs
Why can the lungs compensate for metabolic acidosis or alkalosis?
As pH depends on the ratio of [HCO3-]:pCO2, so the lungs can change pCO2.
What do the lungs normally do regarding CO2?
Keep it within tight limits
How is CO2 normally kept within tight limits by the lungs?
By central chemoreceptors
How do changes in plasma pH drive changes in pCO@?
Via the peripheral chemoreceptors
What happens if [HCO3-] falls?
pCO2 is lowered proportionally by increasing ventilation
What does the increase in ventilation due to a fall in [HCO3-] compensate for?
Metabolic acidosis
What happens if [HCO3-] rises?
pCO2 may be slightly raised by reducing ventilation
What does the reduction in ventilation due to a increase in [HCO3-] compensate for?
Metabolic alkalosis, although only partially
What happens to pH in respiratory acidosis?
Decreased