Bicarb-Carbonic Acid Buffer System

Front 1

Bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system

Back 1

Front 2

CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → H+ + HCO3-

(Describe what's happening in this reaction)

Back 2

In red blood cells, the enzyme carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the conversion of dissolved carbon dioxide to carbonic acid, which rapidly dissociates to bicarbonate and a free proton

Front 3

What does the bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system do?

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• neutralizes fixed acids

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Bicarb equation

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Front 5

Ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid (or partial CO2)?

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20:1

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Define acidosis

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blood pH < 7.35

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Define alkalosis

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blood pH > 7.45

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R.O.M.E.

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Respiratory alkalosis or acidosis = pH and CO2 move in opposite direction

pH ↓ & CO2↑ = Acidosis

pH ↑ & CO2↓ = Alkalosis

Metabolic alkalosis or acidosis = pH and bicarb move in equal direction

pH ↓ & HCO3 ↓= Acidosis

pH ↑ & HCO3 ↑= Alkalosis

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Causes of respiratory acidosis

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• high levels of CO2 in blood
• lungs not able to expel CO2
• abnormal accumulation of acids
• or loss of base from body (asthma, COPD, severe obesity, drugs that suppress breathing)

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Causes of respiratory alkadosis

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• low CO2 levels in blood
• can be caused by fever, high altitude, hyperventilation, aspirin poisoning

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Causes of metabolic acidosis

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• abnormal accumulation of acids
• loss of base from body (dehydration, diarrhea)

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Causes of metabolic alkadosis

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• abnormal accumulation of bicarbonate in blood
• excess amounts of bicarbonate of soda ingested
• renal absorption of bicarb increased because of prolonged vomiting (hypocloremia) or overuse of diuretics (hypokalemia)

Front 13

Effect of increased respiration on blood pH?

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Increased respiration = breathing out CO2 = decreases CO2 (acidic) = increases pH

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Effect of decreased respiration on blood pH?

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Decreased respiration = not breathing out as much CO2 = increased CO2 (acidic) = decreases pH

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How do kidneys affect blood pH?

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Decrease acid by excreting H+ (gets rid of acid)

Decrease acid by secreting bicarbonate into blood (increases base in blood)