Acid-Base Flashcards
Study Guide 2
What is pH?
pH is the measure of hydrogen ions (H+) present
What is an acid?
any molecule that releases H+; a pH under 7
What is a base?
any molecule that absorbs H+; a pH over 7
What is a buffer system?
regulatory response to get pH to equilibrium
What is the normal pH of blood?
blood has a pH of 7.4
What accounts for blood being slightly alkalotic?
blood is a ratio of 1 acid to 20 bases (1:20); due to the presence of more bases it is slightly alkalotic
How do ionic shifts help regulate pH?
the body trades H+ with other ions (K+) in order to make things more or less acidic
How does the carbonic acid (H2CO3) / bicarbonate (HCO3-) system help regulate pH?
the body can use these conjugates to balance each other out; they will shift the reaction in a particular direction
How do the lungs help regulate pH?
the lungs can hold onto CO2 (like acid) or breathe out CO2 to make the body more acidic or alkaline
How do the kidneys help regulate pH?
the kidneys can regulate pH by retaining or getting rid of H+ and HCO3-
What are possible causes of metabolic acidosis?
metabolic acidosis can be caused by diarrhea (lose of base) ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and renal failure
What are possible causes of metabolic alkalosis?
metabolic alkalosis can be caused by prolonged vomiting (loss of acid), hypokalemia, hyperaldosteronism, excess bicarbonate intake, and diuretic therapy
What are possible causes of respiratory acidosis?
respiratory acidosis can be caused by hypoventilation, asthma, obstructions/blockages of respiratory system, respiratory muscle paralysis, or respiratory center depression
What are possible causes of respiratory alkalosis?
hyperventilation, anxiety, hypoxemia, hypermetabolic states, improper use of mechanical ventilators
How will the lungs compensate in metabolic acidosis? Why?
the lungs will compensate by hyperventilating in order to breathe out more CO2 (like acid); kussmaul respirations (rapid and deep breaths)
How will the lungs compensate in metabolic alkalosis? Why?
the lungs will compensate by hypoventilating in order to retain CO2
How does excessive vomiting lead to metabolic alkalosis?
excessive vomiting gets rid of stomach acid (HCL) in high amounts which leads to more alkaline conditions
What is hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis?
alkalosis due to decreased levels of chloride in the body; the kidneys act to reabsorb HCO3- as a result to keep electronegativity
What does paper-bag breathing treat? How?
it treats respiratory alkalosis by making levels of CO2 higher in the bag so you increase the intake of CO2 in order to reestablish equilibrium
What will the kidneys do to buffer respiratory acidosis?
the kidneys will reabsorb more HCO3- (the conjugate) and excrete H+ to rebalance
How can hypokalemia cause metabolic alkalosis?
cells exchange potassium (K+) with hydrogen ions (H+); decreased K+ in the bloodstream means the body needs to put more H+ in cells to take out K+, this leads to more alkaline conditions in the body
How can hyperkalemia cause metabolic acidosis?
cells exchange K+ with H+; the body will shove K+ into the cells and take H+ out leading to more acidic conditions in the body
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
a measure we take when concerned about pH in the body
What is the normal ABG range of pH in the body?
pH = 7.35 to 7.45
