Essay on Acid and Base Balance and Imbalance

Submitted By Bella6383
Words: 1049
Pages: 5
Open Document
Acid and Base Balance and
Imbalance

1

pH Review
•
•
•
•
•

pH = - log [H+]
H+ is really a proton
Range is from 0 - 14
If [H+] is high, the solution is acidic; pH < 7
If [H+] is low, the solution is basic or alkaline ; pH > 7

2

3

4

• Acids are H+ donors.
• Bases are H+ acceptors, or give up OH- in solution. • Acids and bases can be:
– Strong – dissociate completely in solution • HCl, NaOH
– Weak – dissociate only partially in solution • Lactic acid, carbonic acid
5

The Body and pH
•
•
•
•
•
•

Homeostasis of pH is tightly controlled
Extracellular fluid = 7.4
Blood = 7.35 – 7.45
< 6.8 or > 8.0 death occurs
Acidosis (acidemia) below 7.35
Alkalosis (alkalemia) above 7.45

6

7

Small changes in pH can produce major disturbances
• Most enzymes function only with narrow pH ranges
• Acid-base balance can also affect electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-)
• Can also affect hormones

8

The body produces more acids than bases
• Acids take in with foods
• Acids produced by metabolism of lipids and proteins
• Cellular metabolism produces CO2.
• CO2 + H20 ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3-

9

Control of Acids
1. Buffer systems
Take up H+ or release H+ as conditions change Buffer pairs – weak acid and a base
Exchange a strong acid or base for a weak one
Results in a much smaller pH change
10

Bicarbonate buffer
• Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and carbonic acid (H2CO3)
• Maintain a 20:1 ratio : HCO3- : H2CO3
HCl + NaHCO3 ↔ H2CO3 + NaCl
NaOH + H2CO3 ↔ NaHCO3 + H2O
11

Phosphate buffer
• Major intracellular buffer
• H+ + HPO42- ↔ H2PO4• OH- + H2PO4- ↔ H2O + H2PO42-

12

Protein Buffers
•
•
•
•

Includes hemoglobin, work in blood and ISF
Carboxyl group gives up H+
Amino Group accepts H+
Side chains that can buffer H+ are present on
27 amino acids.

13

2. Respiratory mechanisms
• Exhalation of carbon dioxide
• Powerful, but only works with volatile acids • Doesn’t affect fixed acids like lactic acid
• CO2 + H20 ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3• Body pH can be adjusted by changing rate and depth of breathing
14

3. Kidney excretion
•
•
•
•
•

Can eliminate large amounts of acid
Can also excrete base
Can conserve and produce bicarb ions
Most effective regulator of pH
If kidneys fail, pH balance fails

15

Rates of correction
• Buffers function almost instantaneously
• Respiratory mechanisms take several minutes to hours
• Renal mechanisms may take several hours to days

16

17

18

Acid-Base Imbalances
• pH< 7.35 acidosis
• pH > 7.45 alkalosis
• The body response to acid-base imbalance is called compensation
• May be complete if brought back within normal limits
• Partial compensation if range is still outside norms.
19

Compensation
• If underlying problem is metabolic, hyperventilation or hypoventilation can help : respiratory compensation.
• If problem is respiratory, renal mechanisms can bring about metabolic compensation. 20

Acidosis
• Principal effect of acidosis is depression of the
CNS through ↓ in synaptic transmission.
• Generalized weakness
• Deranged CNS function the greatest threat
• Severe acidosis causes
– Disorientation
– coma
– death
21

Alkalosis
• Alkalosis causes over excitability of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
• Numbness
• Lightheadedness
• It can cause :
– Nervousness
– muscle spasms or tetany
– Convulsions
– Loss of consciousness
– Death
22

23

Respiratory Acidosis
• Carbonic acid excess caused by blood levels of CO2 above 45 mm Hg.
• Hypercapnia – high levels of CO2 in blood
• Chronic conditions:
– Depression of respiratory center in brain that controls breathing rate – drugs or head trauma – Paralysis of respiratory or chest muscles
– Emphysema
24

Respiratory Acidosis
• Acute conditons:
– Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
– Pulmonary edema
– Pneumothorax

25

Compensation for Respiratory
Acidosis
• Kidneys eliminate hydrogen ion and retain bicarbonate ion

26

Signs and Symptoms of
Respiratory Acidosis
•
•
•
•
•

Breathlessness
Restlessness
Lethargy and disorientation
Tremors, convulsions, coma
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Acid and Base Balance and Imbalance

Acid Base Balance Essay

Acid-Base Balance Kelly Heffron Grand Canyon University NUR-614 September 16, 2015 Acid-Base Balance The acid base balance is a homeostatic process that aides the body in maintaining a pH in the arterial blood between 7.35-7.45 (Patient, 2015). The body works together through multi-systems to ensure that acidity or alkalinity never take over within the blood. The purpose of the following paper is define the classification of the acid-base balance, define the factors from the case study,…

Words 1136 - Pages 5

Critical Care Study guide Essays

EXAM I Study Guide ACID BASE IMBALANCE 1. Explain the body’s three regulators used to maintain a normal pH: a. Buffers: substance that reacts with an acid or base to prevent a large change in pH Reacts immediately Primary regulator of acid-base balance Acts chemically to change strong acids into weaker acids or to bind acids to neutralize their effects Buffers in the body: Carbonic acid-bicarbonate, monohydrogen-dihydrogen phosphate, intracellular and plasma protein, and hemoglobin buffers…

Words 755 - Pages 4

Physioex 8 Exercise 10: Acid/Base Balance Worksheet Essay

Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis Activity 1: Normal Breathing 1. At 20 seconds, pH = 7.4 2. At 40 seconds, pH = 7.4 3. At 60 seconds, pH = 7.4 4. Did the pH level of the blood change at all during normal breathing? If so, how? The pH did not change during the normal breathing. 5. Was the pH level always within the “normal” range for the human body? Yes it was. 6. Did the PCO2 level change during the course of normal breathing? If so, how? No it did not change either. Activity 2a:…

Words 1629 - Pages 7

Arf Case Study Essay

and the pt retains fluid, is unable to maintain electrolyte and/or acid-base balance, and cannot excrete sufficient amounts of nitrogenous wastes (Perrin, 2009). 3. Diuretic phase- during this phase, a pts urinary output generally increases, often producing up to five liters of urine each day. However, it is not uncommon that these pts still may not be able to completely excrete wastes and regulate electrolyte or acid-base balance. The BUN and creatinine usually decline slowly toward normal over…

Words 2501 - Pages 11

Essay on Respiratory Physiology and Mm Hg

down its concentration gradient. • Gas exchange occurs entirely by diffusion: Insert 16.1 – Diffusion follows concentration gradients (passive). – Diffusion is fast due to the large surface area and the short diffusion distance. 3 Acid/base balance Also important for some GI and renal functions. Which? Angiotensin II? Fig. 13.01 4 Fig. 13.01 The larynx in action… 5 Numbers indicate the bronchopulmonary segments: 1, Apical; 2, posterior; 3, anterior; 4, lateral (superior); 5, medial…

Words 3810 - Pages 16

Introduction to the Physiology of Human Body Essay

INTROduction TO THE HUMAN BODY 1. Define anatomy and physiology While anatomy provides us with a static image of the body architecture, physiology reveals the body’s dynamic and animated workings. Physiology often focuses on events at the cellular or molecular level. A. Anatomy – studies the structure of the body parts and their relationship to one another. i. Developmental – concerns structural changes that in the body occur throughout the lifespan. Embryology studies the developmental changes…

Words 1630 - Pages 7

CHP 27 FLUID ELECTROLYTES I 2 Essay

27 Fluid, Electrolyte, and AcidBase Balance Part I Chapter 25 Objectives: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid–Base Balance Body Water Content  Infants have low body fat, low bone mass, and are 73% or more water  Total water content declines throughout life  Males about 60% water; females are around 50%  This difference reflects females’:  Higher body fat  Smaller amount of skeletal muscle  In old age, only about 45% of body weight is water Body Fluid Compartments  In lean adults, body fluids…

Words 1704 - Pages 7

Contemp Science: Health And Disease

Ivory Dilley Contemp Science: Health and Disease Midterm Study Guide 1. Psychoactive Drugs a) Drug groups (and effects) 1. Cannibinoids- hashish, marijuana (euphoria, slowed thinking/reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination) 2. Depressants- barbiturates (reduced anxiety, feeling of well-being, lowered inhibitions, slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, poor concentration, sedation, drowsiness, unusual excitement, depression, fever, irritability…

Words 1747 - Pages 7

Oxidative stress Essay

organisms, the levels of free radicals and other ‘reactive species’ are controlled by a complex web of antioxidant defences, which minimize (but do not completely prevent) oxidative damage to biomolecules. In human disease, this ‘oxidant–antioxidant’ balance is tilted in favour of the reactive species, so that oxidative damage levels increase. In some diseases, this makes a significant contribution to tissue injury, giving rise to prospects for therapeutic intervention with rationally designed antioxidant…

Words 4149 - Pages 17

Why Typing is Usefun Essay

typing is useful because it helps people do things easier. it helps people because it just does and what if someone didnt have good handwriting that would be very rude to others ok. Portal or nutritional cirrhosis is the form of the disease most common in the United States. About 30-50% of all cases of cirrhosis are this type. Nine out of every 10 people who have nutritional cirrhosis have a history of alcoholism. Portal or nutritional cirrhosis is also called Laënnec's cirrhosis. Biliary cirrhosis…

Words 4872 - Pages 20