Disturbances of Acid-Base Balance Essay

The blood pH value changes as PCO2 changes because CO2 dissolves in the blood forming carbonic acidic and lowering the pH value.

Metabolic alkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base. The kidneys and lungs maintain the proper balance of chemicals, called acids and bases, in the body. Decreased carbon dioxide or increased bicarbonate level makes the body too alkaline. There are different types of alkalosis such as: respiratory alkalosis, which is caused by a low carbon dioxide level in the blood. This can be due to: fever, lack of oxygen, lung disease, or liver disease; hypochloermic alkalosis is caused by an extreme lack or loss of chloride, from prolonged vomiting; hypokalemic alkalosis is caused by the kidneys’ response to an extreme lack of potassium, this can occur from taking certain water pills. Compensated alkalosis occurs when the body returns to the acid-base balance to normal in cases of alkalosis, but bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels remain abnormal. Symptoms of alkalosis can include: confusion, hand tremor, light-headedness, muscle twitching, vomiting, and numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet. Treatment for alkalosis depends on

4. Why does potassium concentration rise in patients with acidosis? What is this called? What effects does it have?

Mineralocorticoids= 
The name mineralocorticoid derives from early observations that these hormones were involved in the retention of sodium, a mineral. The primary endogenous mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, although a number of other endogenous hormones (including progesterone and deoxycorticosterone) have mineralocorticoid function. 

Aldosterone acts on the kidneys to provide active reabsorption of sodium and an associated passive reabsorption of water, as well as the active secretion of potassium in the principal cells of the cortical collecting tubule and active secretion of protons via proton ATPases in the lumenal membrane of the intercalated cells of the collecting tubule. This in turn results in an increase of blood pressure and blood volume.

Intravenous Sodium Bicarbonate therapy increases plasma bicarbonate, buffers excess hydrogen ion concentration, raises blood pH and reverses the clinical manifestations of acidosis.

The purpose of this virtual lab is to observe the acid-base balance in the urinary system by how PCO2 and blood pH affect the H+ and HCO3- in the urine. The renal compensation is a mechanism that shows the kidneys manage to change pH in correct way if the respiratory system is not healthy. The kidneys are two organs that help remove wastes and extra fluids out of the body. The acid-base balance is when the blood need to keep the balance of

The kidney is the organ involved in the filtration of blood and excretion of toxins. An increased ingestion of solutes creates a concentration gradient in the kidneys that causes an increase in the production of ADH by the hypothalamus. This causes an increase in the permeability of the distal and collecting tubes in their kidneys and an increased uptake of water (Reese et al 2011). The purpose of this lab is to examine the effect of sodium chloride on the production of ADH by observing the volume and density (measured as specific gravity) over a total period of 120 minutes. Based on the given information, it can be predicted that the subjects

Aldosterone falls in the class of hormone called mineralocorticoids, produces by the adrenal glands and is found near the kidneys. It sustains blood pressure, water and salt balance within the body. This procedure is assisting the kidneys to preserve sodium and excrete potassium in order to maintain a balance. If Aldosterone production falls, there isn’t enough regulation of salt and water balance (as aldosterone is being lost through urination) triggering blood pressure and blood volume to decline as a result of the kidneys not functioning properly. If body is in need of salt, water is not retained and adrenals release more Aldosterone and salt is reabsorbed from the tubule.

4. Anion Gap = Na - (Cl + HCO3) Anion Gap: 138- (103+16): 19 mEq/L. The anion gap reference range is 8-16 mEq/L and is elevated in this patient. The increased anion gap indicates an increased amount of unmeasured ions are present in the blood. This patient most likely has a wide anion gap acidosis, since there is decreased bicarbonate on the chemistry panel, but the clinician would have to confirm by ordering an arterial blood

Production of H+ will cause plasma pH to fall below 7.4. Normally, increases in H+ concentrations are buffered mostly by haemoglobin, however buffers can only resist small changes in pH. The HCO3- levels increase slightly, but are likely to still remain within normal levels of 22 to 26 mEq/L. This is because equilibrium changes in concentrations is slight compared to the large compensatory changes (1). Renal mechanisms can assist in excreting H+ and reabsorbing HCO3-.

3. Why is the serum bicarbonate low? The serum bicarbonate is low due to the buffering of the keto acids by the bicarbonate ions.

This is being done to provide the most comfortable conditions for a variety of biochemical reactions going on in these fluids, because "in order for a particular reaction to occur or to occur at an appropriate rate, the pH of the reaction medium must be controlled" (Biological buffers, n.d.). Human blood pH levels are kept in the narrow range from 7.35 to 7.45 to ensure that physiological processes go smoothly. When some acid is being added to the blood so that there are a lot of hydrogen ions available, then blood buffering systems start to work to maintain the pH level. Bicarbonate buffering system plays major role in regulating blood pH. In bicarbonate buffering system carbonic acid serves as hydrogen ion donor; when some base is added to blood plasma, carbonic acid dissolves into hydrogen cation and bicarbonate anion. When some acid is added to blood, bicarbonates take up hydrogen ions to become carbonic

During the first few weeks of treatment, plasma volume returns to slightly less that pretreatment levels, despite the continued administration of a diuretic. In the chronic phase of treatment, the vasodepressor influence of a diuretic emerges as a process driven by a reduction in total peripheral resistance (Sica, 2004). According to Woo & Robinson (2015), thiazide and loop diuretics decrease the renal excretion of lithium and may induce lithium toxicity. Thiazide diuretic is one of the drugs that have been there for many years to treat high blood pressure. This drug works in such of way that it excretes sodium and chloride out of the body; it lowers arterial pressure resulting in vasodilation and reduces cardiac output by decreasing extracellular fluid and plasma volume (American Heart Association, 2016). One of the major problems associated with thiazide diuretic is hypokalemia which can in result effect the kidneys (American Heart Association, 2016). It is important to ensure that patients who are taking thiazide diuretics that their potassium level is within range. Low potassium can lead to abnormal rhythms in the heart and can even cause the heart to stop beating

Two animal adaptations that help humans maintain a consistent pH are the lungs, and the kidneys. Also, buffer systems help to maintain pH levels in most animals. The blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs and the greater amount of carbon dioxide their is the lower the pH. Lewis writes, “The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, and consequently the pH of the blood, increases as breathing becomes faster and deeper.” (Lewis 2015). Therefore, the brain can control the blood pH by controlling the speed and depth of breathing. The kidneys eject acids and bases from them helping to slowly compensate for the irregular blood pH. Lastly, buffers, like the carbonic acid bicarbonate buffer, help to regulate the pH of the blood. They adjust the proportion of acid and base by accepting H+ ions when in excess and donating them when depleted. The carbonic acid bicarbonate buffer in the blood contains both a weak acid and base helping to maintain a constant pH of around 7.4. All in all, a regular blood pH is essential for many important processes to

In metabolic alkalosis, there is a characteristic HCO3 level of above 26 mEq/liter and a pH above 7.45. Common causes for this condition include the use of diuretics, excessive intake of antacids, severe dehydration, and the loss of gastric secretions through vomiting. “Respiratory compensation through hypoventilation may bring blood pH into the normal range” (Tortora & Derrickson, 2013). Medical treatment includes IV fluids and, in more severe cases, hemodialysis or hemofiltration.