(SLIDE 1)

Acid base balance is a homeostatic mechanism in the human body that strives to maintain
the optimal pH in the body. The pH is the measurement used to determine the acidity or
alkalinity of arterial blood. The normal pH of arterial blood is 7.35-7.45 If there is lowered pH
(acidosis) due to decreased respiratory rate, it is called hypoventilation or respiratory
acidosis. And if there is increased pH (alkalosis) due to increased respiratory rate, it is called
hyperventilation. Metabolic acidosis is the fall in plasma HCO3 ---> low arterial pH less than
7.35 with plasma carbonate less than 22 mol/L , there will be a compensatory
hyperventilation. Reduced HCO3 is to due increased acid production, decreased renal acid
excretion. Someone with metabolic acidosis would often have a fast heartbeat and breathe
rapidly. In respiratory acidosis, is a condition that occurs when lungs cant remove enough of
the carbon dioxide produced by the body, excess CO2, with a pressure of greater than
44mmHg, causes the pH of blood and other bodily fluids to decrease, making them too
acidic.

Alkalosis occurs when your body has too many bases, it can occur due to decreased blood
levels of carbon dioxide which is an acid, it can also occur due to increased blood levels of
bicarbonate, which is a base. Respiratory alkalosis is defined as a pH above 7.45 due to an
arterial carbon dioxide tension less than 35 mmHg which there is a carbonic acid deficit.
Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by a primary increase in bicarbonate concentration
because of a loss of H+ from the body, there will be a gain in pH and HCO3 which means it
develops when your body loses too much acid, or gains too much base. One of the signs of
metabolic alkalosis is slow breathing.

(SLIDE 2)

The renal system can compensate for alkalosis by the retaining hydrogen ions in the kidneys
and excreting bicarbonate ions to lower the pH levels back to normal range.

(SLIDE 3)

Since carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, a reaction catalyzed by
carbonic anhydrase. An increase in CO2 results in a decrease in blood pH, resulting in
hemoglobin proteins releasing their load of oxygen. Conversely, a decrease in carbon dioxide
provokes an increase in pH, which results in hemoglobin picking up more oxygen.

(SLIDE 4)

In normal conditions, the PCO2 is at 40 and the pH is at 7.41 which are both in the normal
range.

(SLIDE 5)

Here, there is hyperventilation because the minimum reach 21.26 which is already less than
35 which is beyond the normal range, and the maximum pH reached 7.66 which is also
beyond the normal range. The higher peaks in the tracing indicate a larger volume of air.
(SLIDE 6)

When there is a return in normal breathing after hyperventilating, there is a brief period of
about 10 seconds when the breathe is held in order to retain some carbon dioxide.