ABGs class

Respiratory rate

The number of breaths taken per minute.

Tidal volume

The amount of air moved into or out of the lungs with each breath.

Minute ventilation

The total volume of air inhaled or exhaled per minute; calculated as respiratory rate times tidal volume.

Acidosis

A condition in which the body fluids contain too much acid, leading to a decrease in blood pH.

Ventilation

The process of moving air in and out of the lungs.

Buffer system

A system that helps to maintain pH levels in the body by removing excess hydrogen ions.

Carbonic acid

A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.

Bicarbonate

A buffer that helps maintain the pH of blood and other solutions; its chemical formula is HCO3.

Hypoventilation

A condition in which ventilation is insufficient to eliminate carbon dioxide produced by the body.

Hyperventilation

A condition in which ventilation is excessive and decreases carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Compensation

The process by which the body attempts to restore normal pH levels through adjustments in respiratory or renal function.

Anion gap

A calculation used to help identify the causes of metabolic acidosis; it measures the difference between the measured cations and measured anions in serum.

Isohydric buffering

A buffering process in which carbonic acid equilibrates with carbon dioxide and water.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in the air sacs of the lungs.

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a progressive lung disease that obstructs airflow.

Acidosis and alkalosis

Two conditions related to the pH of the body; acidosis refers to low pH while alkalosis refers to high pH.

Lactic acidosis

A form of metabolic acidosis caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the body.

Metabolic acidosis

A disturbance in acid-base balance due to excess acid or loss of bicarbonate.

Metabolic alkalosis

A disturbance in acid-base balance due to excess bicarbonate or loss of acid.

Henderson-Hasselbalch equation

A mathematical equation used to calculate the pH of blood based on bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels.

Respiratory failure

A condition in which the respiratory system fails to maintain adequate gas exchange.

Pulmonary function tests

A series of tests that measure lung function and capacity.

Exhalation

The process of breathing out air from the lungs.

Kidney function in acid-base balance

The role of kidneys in excreting or retaining hydrogen ions and bicarbonate to maintain blood pH.

Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis

A test that measures the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and the pH of blood.

Acid-base homeostasis

The maintenance of the correct pH balance in the body.

Bicarbonate buffer system

A crucial buffer system that maintains pH in the blood by utilizing bicarbonate and carbonic acid.

Chloride shift

A process in which chloride ions move out of red blood cells to maintain charge balance when bicarbonate moves in.

Respiratory compensation

The adjustment of ventilation to correct changes in blood pH.

Kidney compensation

The adjustment of excretion of acids or bases by the kidneys to correct changes in blood pH.

Pathophysiology of acidosis

The physiological changes in the body that lead to an acidotic state.

Pathophysiology of alkalosis

The physiological changes in the body that lead to an alkalotic state.

Emergency treatment of acidosis

Interventions to quickly stabilize the pH in cases of acidosis.

Emergency treatment of alkalosis

Interventions to quickly stabilize the pH in cases of alkalosis.

Respiratory systems impact on pH

Changes in breathing patterns that affect carbon dioxide levels and thus blood pH.

Renal systems impact on pH

The kidneys' ability to excrete hydrogen ions or retain bicarbonate to influence blood pH.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid breathing.

Physiological buffers

Substances in the body that help resist changes in pH.

Buffering capacity

The ability of a buffer system to maintain pH despite the addition of acids or bases.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD)

A medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer filter waste products from the blood.

Chronic respiratory failure

A long-term inability of the lungs to adequately oxygenate blood or remove carbon dioxide.

CO2 retention

A condition where carbon dioxide builds up in the bloodstream.

Physiological mechanisms of breathing

The anatomical and chemical processes involved in ventilation and gas exchange.

Cardiac arrhythmias

Irregular heartbeat patterns that can arise from both acidosis and alkalosis.

Homeostasis

The physiological process of maintaining a stable internal environment.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

A serious condition resulting from uncontrolled diabetes that leads to metabolic acidosis.

Pulmonary circulation

The part of the circulatory system responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Anemia

A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.

Ion exchange

The process in which one type of ion is replaced by another in a compound.

Lactic acid buildup

An accumulation of lactic acid in the body, often due to anaerobic metabolism.

Respiratory pathology

Diseases and disorders affecting the respiratory system.

Acid-base disorders

Conditions that disrupt the normal balance of acids and bases in the body.

Respiratory alkalosis

A condition resulting from hyperventilation that raises blood pH.

Chronic hypoventilation

Persistently reduced breathing that causes CO2 retention.

Acute lung injury

A sudden decrease in lung function that can cause respiratory distress.

Reduced pH compensation

Inadequate response of the body’s systems to restore normal pH.

Capturing CO2

The process of retaining carbon dioxide to balance blood pH.

Excretion of H+ ions

The removal of hydrogen ions from the body, primarily through kidney function.

Acidity of blood

The level of acid in the blood, typically reflected in pH.

Hypercapnia

Excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Anaerobic metabolism

Metabolism that occurs in the absence of oxygen, often producing lactic acid.

Weak acids and bases

Substances that don’t fully dissociate in solution, contributing to a buffer system.

Volatile acid

An acid that can change its form and escape loss by vaporization.

Non-volatile acid

An acid that cannot escape from the body via the lungs.