1. PROFESSOR. ASHRAF HUSAIN
ACID - BASE PHYSIOLOGY
PROFESSOR. ASHRAF HUSAIN
DEPT. OF PHYSIOLOGY
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
RIYADH.
Modified by
The Legendary Genius

2. Acid Base Physiology Definition:
pH is defined as potential of H+ Ion concentration in body fluid. The amount of H+ ion concentration is so low in the body hence it is expressed as –ve logarithm to base of the H+ ion concentration in mEq/lit.
pH = log 1/ [H+ ]
= - log [H+ ]

3. The H Intake or Production
The Acid-Base Balance
Balance of H conc. In ECF .
To Achieve Homeostasis .
Balance Between :
The H Intake or Production
The H Removal

4. NORMAL VALUE Arterial blood = 7.35 – 7.45 Can be explained as follows;
Normal value of H+ ion conc. is about 40nEq/lit.
40 nEq/lit = Eq/lit.
Therefore pH = - log [ ]
= 7.4

5. Acid – Base Imbalance Acidosis = Decrease in arterial PH ( <7.35 )
Due to excess H+
Alkalosis = Elevation in Arterial PH ( >7.45)
Due to excess base .

6. pH and H+ ion concentration
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
H+ ion in nmol/lit
1000
100 10
1.0
Note : one point drop in pH results in a ten fold decrease in H+ ion conc.

7. Scale of pH measurement
The pH scale is between 0 – 14.
Zero onwards below 7 is acidic.
After 7 upto 14 the solution is alkaline.
At 7 (neutral e.g. water) where the amount of H+ and Hydroxyl ion are equal at 23o

8. Examples of pH zero, one & two.
pH 0 = 1 lit. of HCl contains 1gm of H+ = 10o
pH 1 = 10 lit. of N/10 HCl contains 1gm of H+
Therefore 1 lit. will contain 1/10gm of H+ =10-1
pH 2 = 100 lit. of N/100 HCl contains 1gm of H+
Therefore 1 lit. will contain 1/100gm of H+ =10-2
And so on..
It will be noted that a solution of pH 2 does not have twice the H+ ion conc. at a pH of 4 rather it has 100 times H+ ion conc.

9. Since pH is inversely related to H+ ion conc
Since pH is inversely related to H+ ion conc. so a low pH corresponds to high H+ ion conc. (Acidic) and a high pH corresponds to low H+ ion conc. (Alkaline)
Acidic
Neutral
Alkaline 7 14

10. The Negative logarithmic relationship between [H+] and pH

11. About H+
H+ are derived from hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen atom has proton a positive electrical charge with a negative charge electron which is revolving around it. The hydrogen ion is formed when negative ion (electron) is lost and it contains only proton. The H+ is the smallest ionic particle, highly reactive with a very short life and unable to survive on its own.

12. A very tight control is needed for normal metabolic functions.
eg. Enzymatic activity, blood clotting and neuromuscular activity.
Hydrogen ions are the toxic end product of metabolism and they adversely affect all physical and biochemical cellular process in our body.

13. Acid
Molecules containing H atoms that can release (donate) H ions in solutions .
Example , HCL .
Strong acids :
- Completely dissociate : (HCL , H2SO4 )
Weak acid :
- Partially dissociate : ( H2CO3)

14. Base An Ion that accept a H ion .
An example of a base is the Bicarbonate
( HCO3 ) .

15. Buffers Substances that Neutralize acids or bases.
Chemical Reactions which Reduce the effect of adding acid or base to a solution PH .

16. How the body defends against fluctuations in PH
Three Systems in the body :
Buffers in blood .
Respiration through the lungs .
Excretion by the kidney .

17. Blood Buffer
These buffer systems serve as a first line of defense against changes in the acid-base balance :
- HCO3(Regulated by Renal and Respiratory) .
- Protein
- Phosphate
- Hemoglobin

18. Protein
Acidic and Basic Amino acid in plasma and cell protein act as buffers .
HB is an important buffer , can’t be regulated physiological .

19. Phosphate & Intracellular Buffers
Both Intra and Extra cellular phosphate act as a buffer . But its role is minor compared to HB or HCO3.
Intracellular buffers are needed because H doesn’t cross Plasma Membrane .
Intracellular PH is more acidic . (7.2)

20. Hydrogen Ion Excretion in Kidney

21. Buffering of hydrogen ions in urine

22. Factors that increase or decrease H secretion and HCO3
Reabsorption by renal tubules :
Decrease H ion secretion and HCO3 ion reabsorption
Increase in H ion secretion and HCO3 ion reabsorption
PCO2
H , HCO3
ECF volume
Angiotensin II
Aldosterone
Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia

23. Respiratoy Regulation of PH
Maintaining Normal PH by maintaining constant PCO2 .
Normal gas Exchange and ventilation .
Controlled by chemoreceptors .
PCO PH

24. Renal Regulation Tubular Mechanisms of H+
Tubular Reabsorption of HCO3 .

25. Three ways to measure acid-base balance in the body :
Blood PH
Blood PCO2
Blood HCO3

26. Compensation
If underlying problem is metabolic :
Hyperventilation and Hypoventilation mechanisms
will help through Respiratory Compensation .
If the problem is Respiratory , Renal mechanisms , then Renal mechanisms will help through
Metabolic Compensation .

27. Acidosis
Principal effect of acidosis is Depression of the CNS through the decrease in synaptic transmission .
Generelized Weakness .
Deranged CNS is the greatest thread .
severe acidosis causes :
1- Disorientation
2- Coma
3- Death

28. Alkalosis
Causes over excitability of the central and peripheral nervous systems .
Numbness
Lightheadedness
It can cause :
- nervousness .
- muscle spasms or tetany .
- convulsions
- looss of consciousness
- death .

30. -In the Metabolic(acidosis\alkalosis) the PCO2 is Constant .
- In the Respiratory(acidosis\alkalosis) the HCO3 is Constant .

31. Loss of excessive alkali
- Hysterical
- Pneumonia
Loss of excessive alkali
Loss of Gastric acid = Vomiting
Excessive intake of alkali = antiacid

32. Correction for Respiratory Alkalosis :
HCO3 reabsorption by kidneys
blood HCO decreases PH to normal value .
The urine will be excreted with high HCO3.
In blood : PH= normal
HCO3 = Low , PCO2 = low

33. Correction for Respiratory acidosis :
Correction : HCO3 reabsorption by the kidney Blood HCO3 PH back to normal . In blood : PH = normal PCO2 = high , HCO3 = High
- The urine will be excreted with Low HCO3.

34. Correction of Metabolic Alkalosis
Depress ventilation Blood PCO2
PH is back to normal .
In blood :
PH=~ Normal
HCO3 = high
PCO2 = high

35. Correction for Metabolic Acidosis
- Stimulate ventilation ( Hyperventilation )
PCO PH Back to normal .
In blood :
PH =~ normal
HCO3 = Low
PCO2 = Low

36. The body response to acid-base IMBALANCE is called Compensation
If the Range is still outside the normal then ,
It is Partial
If the body is bruoght to the normal limits then,
It is Complete

46. A 44-year – old woman with a long history of indigestion begins to vomit at home. She becomes unwell after 4 days and is admitted to hospital because of marked muscle weakness. Her arterial blood gases are [H+] 28nmol/l,
PaCO2 6.5kPa,
[HCO3- 40mmol/l,
PaO210.3kPa,
plasma potassium 2.1 mmol/l.
Q. What is the likely diagnosis and what treatment is required?

47. Metabolic alkalosis is less common than metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis is less common than metabolic acidosis. It is characterized by an increase in plasma bicarbonate, a fall in [H+], and a small compensatory rise in PaCO2.

48. 2. A 32 – year-old man is admitted in a very ill state
2. A 32 – year-old man is admitted in a very ill state. He had been drinking with friends, but had not been seen for some hours. On admission he is barely conscious and breathing heavily.
His arterial blood gases are;
[H+] 98nmol/l,
PaCO2 2.7kPa,
[HCO3- 6mmol/l,
PaO2 13kPa.
Q. What is likely diagnosis, how should it be confirmed, and what treatment is required?

49. Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a reduction in plasma bicarbonate and a rise in [H+]. The PaCO2 is reduced secondarily by hyperventilation, which mitigates the rise in [H+].

50. 3. a 56-year-old man, who has smoked heavily for many years, develops a worsening cough with purulent sputum, and is admitted to hospital because of difficulty in breathing. He is drowsy and cyanosed. His arterial blood gases are
[H+] 65nmol/l,
PaCO2 9.5kPa,
[HCO3- 28mmol/l,
PaO26.2kPa,
Q. What is likely diagnosis and what treatment is required?

51. Respiratory acidosis arises when effective alveolar ventilation fails to keep pace with the rate of CO2 production. As a result PaCO2, blood [HCO3-] and [H+] all rise.

52. 4. a 13-year-school boy is brought the casualty department, having become acutely unwell in the headmaster’s office. He is alert and agitated, the respiratory rate is 35/min, and he complains of tingling in his hands. His arterial blood gases are;
[H+] 29nmol/l,
PaCO2 2.8kPa,
[HCO3- 22mmol/l,
PaO2 16kPa.
Q. What is the likely diagnosis and what treatment is required?

53. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when there is excessive loss of CO2 due to over-ventilation of the lungs. PaCO2 and [H+] fall. The low PaCO2 results in reduced renal Na+/H+ exchange.

54. REASONS FOR METABOLIC ACIDOSIS AND ALKALOSIS

55. METABOLIC ACID – BASE DISORDERS

56. COMPENSATION IN PRIMARY METABOLIC DISORDERS

57. RESPIRATORY AND MIXED ACID – BASE DISORDERS

58. WHY AN INCREASED PCO2 CAUSES AN ACIDOSIS

59. RENAL COMPENSATION IN PRIMARY RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS

60. CAUSES OF RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS AND ALKALOSIS

61. ACID – BASE DISORDERS: DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

62. THE 95% COFIDENCE INTERVALS FOR ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES IN PRIMARY ACID – BASE DISORDERS

76. THANK YOU