Module 3 - Alterations in Acid-Base Balance Flashcards
How many acid base disturbances are important to us?
4
How does ABG help us with acid base imbalances?
Gives us numbers from arterial blood that can indicate any acid base disturbances and imbalances
What needs to be done before each ABG?
An Allens Test
Hydrogen Ions (H+)
Ions vital to life with low concentration in the body compared to Na, K, etc, but equally as important
Has 2 forms
How are H+ ions expressed
They are expressed as pH (logarithmic form)
What are the 2 forms of Hydrogen Ions in the Body
- Volatile Hydrogen of Carbonic Acids
- Nonvolatile form of Hydrogen and Organic Acids (Fixed)
Carbonic Acid
Most important acid in the body
H2CO3
It breaks down into and is made up of CO2 and H2O (think of breathing!)
What two areas of the body control acid base balance?
Lungs
Kidneys
What area of the body controls volatile forms of hydrogen ions?
Lungs
What area of the body controls nonvolatile forms of hydrogen ions?
Kidneys
What is the normal pH range for the body?
7.35 to 7.45 (slightly alkalotic)
Acids
produced as the end products of metabolism (ex: Lactic acids cause achy muscles from anaerobic glycolysis)
Contain H+ Ions
Acids are Hydrogen Ion ___
Donors
they give up H+ to neutralize or decrease the strength of an acid or to form a weaker base (makes acid weaker giving away H+)
Strength of an acid is determined by …
the number of hydrogen ions it contains
The number of hydrogen ions in body fluid determines…
acidity, alkalinity, or neutrality of the body fluid
More H+ = More ____ = ___ pH
More H+ = More acidic = lower pH
Discuss Lung excretion of acids
Lungs excrete 13000-30000 mEq of volaile hydrogen per day in the form of carbonic acid (H2CO3) as CO2
The respiratory rate increases to get rid of the acids make things more alkalotic/neutral
The fast workhorse of acid base balance
Discuss Kidney excretion of acids
Kidneys excrete 50mEq of nonvolatile acids per day
The kidney releases a lot less than the lungs but the difference they make could be what determines the difference between life and death
The slow fine tuners of acid base balance
Bases
contain no Hydrogen ions (H+)
Most important Base in the body?
Bicarb (HCO3-)
Bases are hydrogen ion (H+) ____
acceptors
they accept H+ from acids to neutralize or decrease the strength of a base or to form a weaker acid
What is pH
it reflects the hydrogen ion concentration (H+) in a fluid
The greater the concentration of H+ ions, the ___ the pH and the more ___ the blood
lower the pH; the more acidic the blood
The lower the concentration of H+ ions, the ___ the pH and the more ___ the blood
higher the pH; the more alkalotic the blood