NURB 3050 Acid Base Exam
Latest Update
What are the major acids produced during metabolic functions? - Answer -Volatile
(carbonic acid and is eliminated as CO2) and Nonvolatile (sulfuric, phosphoric, and
other organic acids that release hydrogen)
What is normal pH? - Answer 7.35-7.45
Why does the human body tend to have a slightly acidic environment? - Answer It keeps
the line between acidic and alkaline very close so that infections can not thrive and so
that body systems can function properly (if it gets too far below 6.8 or too far above 7.8,
blood cells start to die)
What are the major buffering agents in the body? - Answer -Carbonic acid-Bicarbonate
Buffer: operates in lung and kidney; lungs are second line because they can expelled
the amount of carbonic acid by blowing off carbon dioxide and leaving water; kidneys
are the third line because they can reabsorb bicarbonate or regenerate bicarbonate
from carbon dioxide and water
-Protein buffering: Intracellular buffering agent; hemoglobin binds to hydrogen ion and
carbon dioxide, becomes a weak acid; hemoglobin not saturated with oxygen is a better
buffer
-Renal buffering: Secretes hydrogen into urine and reabsorbs bicarbonate into the
plasma; HPO4 (Dibasic phosphate) and NH3 (ammonia) attach hydrogen ions and can
be secreted into the urine
What does pACO2 mean? - Answer partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
Why are blood gases expressed in mm of Hg? - Answer How pressure is measured in the
atmosphere
Normal range of PCO2 - Answer 35-45 mm Hg
Normal range of PO2 - Answer 80-100 mm Hg
Normal range of HCO3 - Answer 22 +/- 2
Bases excess - Answer -2 to +2
A pH < 7.35
A PCO2 > 45
Latest Update
What are the major acids produced during metabolic functions? - Answer -Volatile
(carbonic acid and is eliminated as CO2) and Nonvolatile (sulfuric, phosphoric, and
other organic acids that release hydrogen)
What is normal pH? - Answer 7.35-7.45
Why does the human body tend to have a slightly acidic environment? - Answer It keeps
the line between acidic and alkaline very close so that infections can not thrive and so
that body systems can function properly (if it gets too far below 6.8 or too far above 7.8,
blood cells start to die)
What are the major buffering agents in the body? - Answer -Carbonic acid-Bicarbonate
Buffer: operates in lung and kidney; lungs are second line because they can expelled
the amount of carbonic acid by blowing off carbon dioxide and leaving water; kidneys
are the third line because they can reabsorb bicarbonate or regenerate bicarbonate
from carbon dioxide and water
-Protein buffering: Intracellular buffering agent; hemoglobin binds to hydrogen ion and
carbon dioxide, becomes a weak acid; hemoglobin not saturated with oxygen is a better
buffer
-Renal buffering: Secretes hydrogen into urine and reabsorbs bicarbonate into the
plasma; HPO4 (Dibasic phosphate) and NH3 (ammonia) attach hydrogen ions and can
be secreted into the urine
What does pACO2 mean? - Answer partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
Why are blood gases expressed in mm of Hg? - Answer How pressure is measured in the
atmosphere
Normal range of PCO2 - Answer 35-45 mm Hg
Normal range of PO2 - Answer 80-100 mm Hg
Normal range of HCO3 - Answer 22 +/- 2
Bases excess - Answer -2 to +2
A pH < 7.35
A PCO2 > 45
