carbonic acid bicarbonate buffer system

7.4 give or take .02

What is arterial blood pH maintained at

co2 diffuses into the blood from tissues.

First step of buffer

in RBC co2 combines with h20 to form carbonic acid H2CO3, facilitated by carbonic anhydrase. h20+co2=h2co3

second step of buffer

h2co3 breaks down into the bicarbonate ion H2co3=HCO3- and H+

step 3 of buffer system

H+ is neutralized by attaching onto hemoglobin

Step 4 of buffer system

Hco3- moves into plasma bc concentration gradient,

step 5 of buffer system

balances negative charge of HCo3- leaving RBC, cl- from plasma comes into RBC

chloride shift

H+ combines with (bicarbonate ion) HCO3- to form H2co3(weak acid) removing one H+

If pH decreases what happens to maintain pH

H2co3(carbonic acid) dissociates into h+ and Hco3- which relases one H+ into blood

if pH increases what happens to maintain PH

less carbonic acid production in RBC, less H+, higher PH

hyperventilation effect on pH

co2 not removed, more carbonic acid, more H+ produced from dissociation, lower PH.

hypoventilation effect on PH