Lecture 6a: Acid Base Balance I Flashcards
Why is Acid-Base Balance
in the Body Important? (4 points)
- Our diets contain many acids and bases; cellular catabolism of foodstuffs produces the majority of acids and bases in our bodies.
- Bases normally lost in feces; the net effect of accumulation of acid in body fluids.
- Cellular functions are sensitive to pH.
- Acid must be excreted for the normal physiological function of cells and organs.
Acids ____ H+ ions. Bases ____ H+ ions
donate, receive
____ dissociate completely or almost completely into H+ and their conjugate base.
Strong acids
____ are only slightly ionized in aqueous solution
Weak acids
What is a buffer?
A mixture of substances in an aqueous solution that can resist changes in H+ ion concentration when strong acids or bases are added.
Buffers are usually a combination of a weak acid and its conjugate base
Acidity is determined by what?
The activity of H+ ions in a solution
What is the pH scale?
A convenient way to express a wide range of acidities
pH=
-log(H+ activity)
In the body, H+ activity is equal to _________. Therfore pH= _________
- H+ concentration
- pH=-log[H+]
pH of arterial blood is normally close to?
7.40
[ ]=40 nM
What is the normal range for pH of arterial blood?
7.35 to 7.45
Under pathologic conditions, the arterial blood pH can range from ____________.
6.9 to 7.8
What is the arterial blood pH w/ Acidemia?
pH<7.35
What is the arterial blood pH w/ Alkalemia?
pH>7.45
What are the sources of Acid in the body?
- Cellular metabolism (main source)
- Accidentally Ingested Fixed Acids
- Abnormally High Fixed Acid Production (e.g. Diabetic Ketoacidosis)