Lec 7 - Chemical Control of Breathing Flashcards
What is the pH in the plasmas?
7.35 - 7.45
What is the concentration of bicarbonate in the plasma?
22 - 26 mmol/L
What is the PaO2?
9.3 - 13.3 kPa
What is the PaCO2?
4.7 - 6.0 kPa
What is the function of the respiratory system?
- To maintain oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure gradients to optimise transfer.
- To regulate pH of the extracellular fluid.
Define hypoxia?
Fall in pO2
Define hypocapnia
Fall in pCO2
Define hypercapnia
Rise in pCO2
Define hyperventilation
Ventilation increase without changing metabolism.
- pO2 will rise.
- pCO2 will fall.
Define hypoventilation
Ventilation decrease without changing metabolism.
- pO2 will fall.
- pCO2 will rise.
What happens if pO2 changes without a change in pCO2?
- If pO2 changes without a change in pCO2, correction of pO2 will cause pCO2 to drop.
- This leads to hypocapnia.
What happens in the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system?
- It is a major buffer system in blood.
- It is highly effective because the amount of dissolved CO2 is controlled by respiration.
- In addition the concentration of HCO3- is regulated by the kidneys.
- pH = pK + log [HCO3-] / [H2CO3-].
- because H2CO3- is in eqm with CO2 so can be substituted for it.
What is the effect of pCO2 on plasma pH?
pH = pK + log ([HCO3-]/(pCO2 x o.23))
- If [HCO3-} remains unchanged the following happens:
- If pCO2 increases then pH falls.
- If pCO2 decreases then pH rises.
- Small changes in pCO2 lead to large changes in pH.
What happens if plasma pH falls below 7.0?
- enzymes become denatured.
What happens if plasma pH rises above 7.6?
- free calcium concentration drops leading to tetany.
How does hypoventilation influence plasma pH?
It leads to an increase in pCO2
How does hypercapnia influence plasma pH?
It leads to a fall in plasma pH.
—> respiratory acidosis.
How does hyperventilation influence plasma pH?
It leads to a decrease in pCO2.
How does hypocapnia influence plasma pH?
It leads to a rise in plasma pH.
—> Respiratory alkalosis
What does plasma pH depend upon?
It depends upon the ratio of [HCO3-] to pCO2
What compensates changes in pCO2?
Changes in pCO2 can be compensated for by changes in [HCO3]-