CVPR Week 5: Acid and Base prework Flashcards
How much of the human body is water?
~60% of human body weight is composed of water
Where is the water in the human body distributed?
2/3 ICF (28L) and 1/3 ECF (14L)
TBW equation =
0.6 x Wt (Kg) = V (L)
What are the main anions and cations in ICF and ECF?
How does H+ effect the cellular environment?
H+ concentration modifies protein structure and enzyme function therefore it is paramount to regulate H+ concentration within tight limits (35-45 nmol/L)
What is the typical H+ concentration in the body?
35-45 nmol/L
H+ concentrations in the ECF compared to other elements
In the ECF, the concentration of H+ is much less compared to other elements. Such as Na is 35 million times higher than that of H+
Why are buffer systems necessary?
Large amounts of H+ are produced during metabolic processes daily
The concentration of H+ must be maintained at low and tight levels
What is a buffer system?
A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH when an acid or an alkali is added to it
What are buffer’s composed of?
Typically involve a weak acid or an alkali together with one of their salts
How does a buffer system work?
Addition of a strong acid results in the formation of a weak acid and similarly, the addition of a strong base results in the formation of a weak base. Thus a buffer system prevents large changes in pH
Are buffer systems reusable?
If the constituents of a buffer system are consumed and the buffer system loses efficacy if they are not replaced.
Buffer system of the ECF?
Bicarbonate buffer system (H2CO3/HCO3)
Buffer system of the ICF?
Hemoglobin (H/Hb)
Proteins (H/Proteins)
Phosphate (HPO4/H2PO4)
Isohydrolic principle
since the H+ concentration in the body is finite, all of the buffers in a common solution are in equilibrium with the same H+ concentration. So by knowing the status of one system then we know the functioning status of all the buffer systems in the body and thus can assess the acid/base status
How is acid/base status assessed?
Arterial blood gasses (ABGs), serum osmolarity and chemistries (Na, K, Cl, CO2, albumin), urine chemistries (Na, K, Cl) are a few tools used to assess the functioning of the bicarbonate buffer system
ABGs AKA
Arterial blood gases
What are ABGs?
A series of tests that are performed on arterial blood and provide valuable information to assess the oxygenation and acid/base status
PaO2 =
A value that represents the partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in the arterial blood The PaO2 is the primary indicator of whether a patient is hypoxic and is used to diagnose Acute Respiratory Failure
ARF AKA
Acute respiratory failure
What is partial pressure?
In a mixture of gases, the partial pressure exerted by a gas is equal to the amount of gas present in that mixture provided the temperature remains constant
Changes in PaO2 with altitude
At sea level the atmospheric pressure is 760 mmHg. The concentration in air is 21%, therefore the PO2 at sea level will be (760 x 0.21) 159 mmHg. Albuquerque is at an altitude of 6000 ft and the atmospheric pressure here is approximately 603 mmHg. PO2 in Albuquerque is 126 mmHg. Note that the concentration of O2 remains constant but is only represented by a total pressure of 603 mmHg. 603 mmHg x 21% O2 = 0.21 126 mmHg PO2
What serum level of O2 represents hypoxia?
<65 mmHg
SaO2 =
Represents the % of hemoglobin which is saturated with O2
Normal SaO2 levels
Normal SaO2 = > 92%
What describes the relationship between PaO2 and SaO2?
The O2-Hb dissociation curve
FiO2 =
The fraction O2 in the inspired air. An ABG result should list the FiO2 at which the ABG was collected. Room air has a FiO2 of 21%
Shunt equation relevance
This value is calculated by taking the PaO2 from the ABG results and dividing this by the FiO2 being delivered to the patient.
For example: PaO2 of 75 mmHg divided by room air which has a FiO2 of 0.21 (21% oxygen) would give us a ratio of 357
Shunt equation normal values
A PaO2/FiO2 ratio of > 300 is considered normal
pH definition
A term used to indicate the hydrogen ion concentration in the blood. It is the H ion concentration in the negative log (base 10) scale.
pH =
pH = - log(H+) where H+ is expressed in mol/L
Normal pH range of arterial blood
Normal Arterial blood pH = 7.35 - 7.45
pH relation to [H+]
pH is inversely related to H+ ion concentration
A low pH is associated with a high [H+]
Is a given pH considered acidic or basic?
Any values under 7.40 is considered acidic
Any values over 7.40 is considered alkaline
How to calculate H+ ions from pH
[H+] = 10^-pH
PaCO2 =
A value that represents the partial pressure of CO2 in the arterial blood
CO2 in the blood is considered?
CO2 in the blood is considered a volatile acid
How is CO2 regulated in the body?
CO2 is regulated in the lungs, a change in pH due to a change in PaCO2 is labeled as a respiratory abnormality
Normal PaCO2 levels
PaCO2 > 42 mmHg indicates respiratory acidosis
PaCO2 <38 mmHg indicates respiratory alkalosis
HCO3 =
A value that represents the bicarbonate content of the blood
How is HCO3 regulated?
Kidneys regulate HCO3 concentration by reabsorbing and making new HCO3-. A change in pH due to a change in HCO3- is labeled as a “metabolic” abnormality
Normal HCO3 levels
HCO3 < 22 indicates metabolic acidosis
HCO3 > 26 indicates metabolic alkalosis
Acid =
An acid is a substance that can donate a proton
Base =
A substance that can accept a proton
Acidemia =
Acidic blood has a pH < 7.35 (or a H ion concentration > 42 nmol/L)
Acidosis =
A clinical condition or disease process producing a state where the blood pH is < 7.35
Alkalemia =
Basic blood has a pH > 7.45 (or a H ion concentration < 38 nmol/L)
a pH of > 7.45 is labeled as alkalemia
Alkalosis =
A clinical condition or disease process producing a state where the blood pH is > 7.45
How does the bicarbonate system work?
Cells produce H+ ions which enter the circulation Bicarbonate buffer system which comprises a weak acid (H2CO3) and its salt (NaHCO3), prevents sudden changes in the concentration of H+. H+ binds with the salt (Na)HCO3 and forms Carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is catalyzed by carbonic acid
H2CO3 is unstable and immediately breaks down into H2O and CO2
Thereby preventing an increase in H+ ion concentration by converting a strong acid into a weak acid, however, there was depletion of HCO3 and addition of CO2 in the system
What happens to carbonic acid after it is catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase?
H2CO3 is unstable and immediately breaks down into H2O and CO2
For the bicarbonate buffer system to continue preventing pH changes what needs to happen?
CO2 needs to be released and HCO3 needs to be repleted
How is HCO3 replenished?
Kidneys generate new HCO3