Blood gases (kill me)

Question 1

Define terminology associated with blood gas analysis

Acid, acidosis, acidemia
Base, alkalosis, alkalemia, base excess
Buffer

Answer 1

Acid: A substance able to give up H+
Acidosis: over abundance of Acid
Acidemia: too much acid in the blood
base: something able to accept H+
alkalosis: too much base
Alkalemia: over basic blood
base excess: over abundance of bicarb
Buffer: pool of acid/base that keeps the pH from drifting out of range too quickly

Question 2

Define terminology associated with blood gas analysis

Henderson-Hasselbalch equation

Answer 2

pH=pKa+log([base]/[acid])

Question 3

Discuss blood buffer systems

Explain the plasma buffering systems
Bicarbonate/carbonic acid
Phosphate
Proteins; imidazole group of histidine
Explain the RBC/hemoglobin buffering mechanism

Answer 3

HCO3 and H2CO3 exist in free form to bind to their conjugate and maintain the range. H2CO3 is eventually broken into CO2 and H2O which is exhaled.

Hemoglobin binds to CO to carry it out of the tissues, adding to the buffering ability.

Question 4

Characteristics of Acid/base disorders

Answer 4

Primary disorder Primary Responses Compensatory response

Metabolic acidosis: ^H+ |VpH| V HCO3| V PCO2 (hyperventilation)
Metabolic Alkalosis: V H+| ^pH| ^HCO3| ^ PCO2 (Hypoventilation)
Respiratory Acidosis: ^H+| VpH| ^PCO2| ^ HCO3
Respiratory Alkalosis: V H+| ^pH| V PCO2| V HCO3

Question 5

7 condition leading to hypoxia (poor tissue oxygenation)

Answer 5

Atmospheric O2
Adequate ventilation
Lung/Bloodexchange
Hgb binding
tissue blood flow
O2 -> tissue release