Understanding Acid-Base Balance, pH Imbalance, and Related Disorders

This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of acid-base balance, a critical concept in human physiology, and the disorders that can arise from imbalances in blood pH. It defines alkalosis and acidosis, detailing the conditions that occur when the blood becomes too alkaline or acidic, respectively. The document explores respiratory and metabolic disorders, including respiratory acidosis and alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, outlining their causes, symptoms, and mechanisms. It explains how these conditions impact the body's pH balance, referencing relevant literature to support the information. The assignment also touches on the buffer mechanisms, including increased anion gap and the role of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), to help the body maintain homeostasis. It further discusses specific conditions like Liddle syndrome and the role of chloride in metabolic alkalosis. Finally, the assignment mentions the various methods of testing and treatment, such as blood gas measurement, artificial ventilation, and medication.

pH
pH balance in body can
also be termed as Acid-
Base Balance.
pH imbalance can lead
to two disorders
AcidosisAlkalosis
Acidosis can be defined as
the increasing level of Acid
in the blood that decreases
the pH value below 7.35
Alkalosis can be defined as
when the blood becomes
alkaline due to increasing
amount of bicarbonate that
increases the pH value
above 7.45
Respiratory
Alkalosis
Metabolic
Alkalosis
Metabolic
Acidosis
Respiratory
Acidosis

Alkalosis
Respiratory AlkalosisMetabolic Alkalosis
Metabolic condition of the body when the pH level of
the body tissues go beyond the standard range, which
is 7.35 – 7.45 (Siegler & Marshall, 2015)
Decrease in H+ ion concentration and
increase in HC O3
−¿¿ concentration
Chloride responsive Chloride
Indeterminate Chloride resistant
Loss of H+ ions by
vomiting or via
kidney
Loss of K+ disturbs
Na+ - K+ pump
Decreases
Albumin and
Phosphate in the
blood
Retaining of
Bicarbonate.
Decreasing level
of Mg+ in the
blood
Excessive loss of H+
ion through Urine
due to increasing
activity of Na+ - H+
protein exchange in
Kidney
Liddle
Syndrome
A health condition of the body when increasing respiration increases the blood
pH level more than the standard range, which is 7.35 – 7.45 (Basting et al., 2015)
With an additional reduction of CO2 in the arteries. It is one of the
condition that comes under disturbance of acid-base Homeostasis.
Mechanism includes:
HC O3
−¿+H + ¿→ H2 CO 3→C O2 + H 2O ¿ ¿
Symptoms Include:
Increasing Heartbeat
Excessive Sweating
Contraction of Body
Muscles
Causes Include:
Excessive Stress, Lungs
disorder, Aspirin
poisoning, excessive
release of CO2, Liver
disorder

Acidosis
Respiratory AcidosisMetabolic Acidosis
Metabolic condition of the body when body produces excessive amount of acid that includes
ketoacids or lactic acid. In such cases kidneys are incapable to eliminate the acids. It
decrease the pH value below the standard range (Adeva-Andany et al., 2014)
Leads to excessive
loss of Bicarbonate
Low Partial
Pressure of
Carbon Dioxide
(PCO2)
reimbursing for
Metabolic
Acidosis
Increased anion gap
Causes includes:
Lactic Acidosis,
Severe Kidney
Failure,
Ketoacidosis,
Propylene Glycol
Buffer Mechanism Includes:
H+¿+ HCO 3
−¿⇆ H 2C O3⇆ CO 2+ H2 O ¿¿
Condition of a Human body when lungs unable to remove
excessive amount of CO2 produced in the body (Dorman,
Sullivan & Pitts, 2015)
When pH of the blood falls below the standard range that is
7.35 to 7.45
Acute Respiratory
Acidosis, which
occurs
immediately. If
left untreated can
cause a medical
emergency
Chronic
Respiratory
Acidosis, which
develops with
time but does not
show symptoms
in early stages.
Symptoms
Include:
Headache, Chest
Pain, Memory
loss, Anxiety and
Asthma
It can be tested and cured with Blood gas measurement, Artificial Ventilation,
Antibiotics, diuretics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and mechanical ventilation

References
Adeva-Andany, M. M., Fernández-Fernández, C., Mouriño-Bayolo, D., Castro-Quintela, E., & Domínguez-Montero, A. (2014). Sodium
bicarbonate therapy in patients with metabolic acidosis. The Scientific World Journal, 2014.
Basting, T. M., Burke, P. G., Kanbar, R., Viar, K. E., Stornetta, D. S., Stornetta, R. L., & Guyenet, P. G. (2015). Hypoxia silences retrotrapezoid
nucleus respiratory chemoreceptors via alkalosis. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(2), 527-543.
Dorman, P. J., Sullivan, W. J., & Pitts, R. F. (2015). The renal response to acute respiratory acidosis. The Journal of clinical investigation, 33(1),
82-90.
Siegler, J. C., & Marshall, P. (2015). The effect of metabolic alkalosis on central and peripheral mechanisms associated with exercise‐induced
muscle fatigue in humans. Experimental physiology, 100(5), 519-530.