Acid–base imbalance is an abnormality of the human body's normal balance of acids and bases that causes the plasma pH to deviate out of the normal range (7.35 to 7.45). In the fetus, the normal range differs based on which umbilical vessel is sampled (umbilical vein pH is normally 7.25 to 7.45; umbilical artery pH is normally 7.18 to 7.38). It can exist in varying levels of severity, some life-threatening.
An excess of acid is called acidosis or acidemia, while an excess in bases is called alkalosis or alkalemia. The process that causes the imbalance is classified based on the cause of the disturbance (respiratory or metabolic) and the direction of change in pH (acidosis or alkalosis). This yields the following four basic processes:
The presence of only one of the above derangements is called a simple acid–base disorder. In a mixed disorder, more than one is occurring at the same time. Mixed disorders may feature an acidosis and alkosis at the same time that partially counteract each other, or there can be two different conditions affecting the pH in the same direction. The phrase "mixed acidosis", for example, refers to metabolic acidosis in conjunction with respiratory acidosis. Any combination is possible, as metabolic acidosis and alkalosis can co exist together.
The traditional approach to the study of acid–base physiology has been the empirical approach. The main variants are the base excess approach and the bicarbonate approach. The quantitative approach introduced by Peter A Stewart in 1978 is newer.
There are numerous reasons that each of the four processes can occur (detailed in each article). Generally speaking, sources of acid gain include:
Retention of carbon dioxide
Production of nonvolatile acids from the metabolism of proteins and other organic molecules
Loss of bicarbonate in feces or urine
Intake of acids or acid precursors
Sources of acid loss include:
Use of hydrogen ions in the metabolism of various organic anions
Loss of acid in the vomitus or urine
Gastric aspiration in hospital
Severe diarrhea
Carbon dioxide loss through hyperventilation
The body's acid–base balance is tightly regulated.
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Le cours comporte deux parties. Les bases de la thermodynamique des équilibres et de la cinétique des réactions sont introduites dans l'une d'elles. Les premières notions de chimie quantique sur les é
Le but est de connaitre et comprendre le fonctionnement des systèmes cardiovasculaire, urinaire, respiratoire, digestif, ainsi que du métabolisme de base et sa régulation afin de déveloper une réflect
The bicarbonate buffer system is an acid-base homeostatic mechanism involving the balance of carbonic acid (H2CO3), bicarbonate ion (HCO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to maintain pH in the blood and duodenum, among other tissues, to support proper metabolic function. Catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase, carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which in turn rapidly dissociates to form a bicarbonate ion (HCO ) and a hydrogen ion (H+) as shown in the following reaction: As with any buffer system, the pH is balanced by the presence of both a weak acid (for example, H2CO3) and its conjugate base (for example, HCO) so that any excess acid or base introduced to the system is neutralized.
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test, or arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. An ABG test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the radial artery with a syringe and a thin needle, but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or another site is used. The blood can also be drawn from an arterial catheter. An ABG test measures the blood gas tension values of the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and the blood's pH.
The NEST building laboratory of Empa and Eawag is a modular research and innovation demonstrator where new technologies, materials and systems are tested, researched, honed and validated in realistic conditions. In the NEST concept, only the supporting str ...
Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering Group, EPFL Valais Wallis2017
, , ,
Novel efficient chemical processes involving cheap and widely accessible carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide under mild conditions for the production of valuable chemical products are highly desirable in the current energetic context. Uranium nitride materia ...
2017
, ,
This study addresses the safety issue for the realization of a CO2 heat distribution system in the NEST research and innovation building. It is based on consideration around the concept of CO2 network developed at LENI/IPESE-EPFL and takes advantage from t ...