Chemistry Exam 3 Acid Base Balance

What is the normal pH range?

7.35-7.45

What pH is considered acidosis?

less than 7.35

What pH is considered alkalosis?

above 7.45

What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?

pH=pK+log of A/HA

What regulates hydrogen ion concentration in the body?

chemical buffers

Primary compensation

The body's automatic response to push an abnormal blood pH back to the normal range

What is partial compensation?

forces are acting to push pH back into balance, but pH is still abnormal

What is full compensation?

forces acting to push pH back into balance are successful, and pH is within the normal range

What are the causes of respiratory acidosis?

problems with the respiratory system or depression of the respiratory center in the brain that controls the breathing rate

What are the causes of metabolic acidosis?

-loss of bicarbonate through diarrhea or renal dysfunction

-accumulation of acids (lactic or ketones) that exceed the rate of elimination

-failure of the kidneys to excrete hydrogen ions

-Bicarbonate drops below 22mEq/L in the blood

What are the 4 components of an arterial blood gas report?

pH, PCO2, HCO3, and PO2

The majority of carbon dioxide (75%) is transported in what form?

Bicarbonate ions

20% of carbon dioxide binds directly with...

hemoglobin

What is another name for the PCO2 electrode?

Severinghaus electrode

What is another name for the O2 electrode?

Clark electrode

Buffer

combination of a weak acid and/or a weak base and its salt that resists changes in pH

What makes the best buffer?

weak acids

What is deficient in metabolic acidosis?

bicarbonate ions

What is the normal ratio of carbonic acid to bicarbonate in arterial blood?

20 bicarbonate to 1 carbonic acid

What happens if arterial blood from a normal patient is exposed to air?

Gas exchange occurs via diffusion

A patient that is hyperventilating is probably compensating for ________ acid base disorder.

metabolic

When measuring the oxygen content in the arterial blood gas, what does the oxygen content reflect?

The total amount of oxygen carried in the arterial blood