Disturbed acid-base balance Flashcards
What is hyperventilation?
Increase in alveolar ventilation
without change in metabolism
How does hyperventilation affect alveolar pO2 and pCO2?
Alveolar pO2 increases because are inspiring more oxygen
Alveolar pCO2 decreases because are expiring more carbon dioxide
How does hyperventilation affect plasma pO2 and pCO2?
Plasma pO2 increases because more oxygen diffuses from alveoli into pulmonary capillaries
Plasma pCO2 decreases because more carbon dioxide diffuses from pulmonary capillaries to alveoli
What is hypoventilation?
Decrease in alveolar ventilation
without change in metabolism
How does hypoventilation affect alveolar pO2 and pCO2?
Low alveolar pO2 because are inspiring less oxygen
High alveolar pCO2 because are expiring less carbon dioxide
How does hypoventilation affect plasma pO2 and pCO2?
Low plasma pO2 because less oxygen diffusing into pulmonary capillaries from alveoli, hypoxia
High plasma pCO2 because less carbon dioxide diffusing from pulmonary capillaries into alveoli
What is hypercapnia?
Increase in plasma pCO2 above normal range
How does hypercapnia affect plasma pH?
Higher concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood
favours forwards bicarbonate buffer reaction
increases concentration of hydrogen ions
decrease in plasma pH
What is hypocapnia?
Decrease in plasma pCO2 below normal range
How does hypocapnia affect plasma pH?
Lower concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood
favours backwards bicarbonate buffer reaction
reduces concentration of hydrogen ions
increase in plasma pH
What is respiratory acidosis?
Hypoventilation
gives hypercapnia
gives decrease in plasma pH
What are the relative levels of the following in respiratory acidosis
- plasma pCO2
- plasma bicarbonate ion concentration
- plasma pH
plasma pCO2 - high
plasma bicarbonate ion concentration - normal
plasma pH - low
What is meant by compensating for respiratory acidosis?
Kidneys increase their reabsorption and production of bicarbonate ions
to increase the plasma bicarbonate ion concentration
How does increasing plasma bicarbonate ion concentration compensate for respiratory acidosis?
Stops the forwards bicarbonate buffer reaction from being favoured
plasma pH returns to normal
How long does it take for the kidneys to increase plasma bicarbonate ion concentration to compensate for respiratory acidosis?
2-3 days
What is the similarity between fully compensated and partially compensated respiratory acidosis?
plasma pCO2 - high
plasma bicarbionate ion concentration - higher
What is the difference between fully compensated and partially compensated respiratory acidosis?
Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
plasma pH - normal
Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
plasma pH - low
What is respiratory alkalosis?
Hyperventilation
gives hypocapnia
gives increase in plasma pH
What are the relative levels of the following in respiratory alkalosis
- plasma pCO2
- plasma bicarbonate ion concentration
- plasma pH
plasma pCO2 - low
plasma bicarbonate ion concentration - normal
plasma pH - high
What is meant by compensating for respiratory alkalosis?
Kidneys decrease their reabsorption and production of bicarbonate ions
to decrease the plasma bicarbonate ion concentration
How does decreasing plasma bicarbonate ion concentration compensate for respiratory alkalosis?
Stops backwards bicarbonate buffer reaction being favoured
pH returns to normal
How long does it take for the kidneys to decrease plasma bicarbonate ion concentration to compensate for respiratory alkalosis?
2-3 days