Acid-base Imbalances

• What is respiratory acidosis characterized by?

  Increase in carbonic acid
• What is respiratory alkalosis characterized by?

  Decrease in carbonic acid
• What defines metabolic acidosis?

  Loss of base, gain of acid
• What defines metabolic alkalosis?

  Loss of acid, gain of base
• What causes respiratory acidosis?

  Hypoventilation leading to CO₂ retention
• What is the mechanism behind respiratory acidosis?

  CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid)
• How does increased CO₂ affect pH in respiratory acidosis?

  More CO₂ leads to decreased pH
• What causes respiratory alkalosis?

  Hyperventilation leading to excess CO₂ loss
• What is the mechanism behind respiratory alkalosis?

  Less CO₂ leads to less carbonic acid
• How does decreased CO₂ affect pH in respiratory alkalosis?

  Less CO₂ leads to increased pH
• What defines metabolic acidosis?

  Loss of base (HCO₃⁻) or gain of acid
• What causes metabolic acidosis?

  Excess acid production or loss of bicarbonate
• What is the mechanism behind metabolic acidosis?

  HCO₃⁻ loss leads to decreased pH
• How does H⁺ gain affect pH in metabolic acidosis?

  More acid accumulates leads to decreased pH
• What defines metabolic alkalosis?

  Loss of acid (H⁺) or gain of base (HCO₃⁻)
• What causes metabolic alkalosis?

  Excess bicarbonate or loss of acid
• What is the mechanism behind metabolic alkalosis?

  More HCO₃⁻ leads to increased pH
• How does loss of H⁺ affect pH in metabolic alkalosis?

  Less acid leads to higher pH
• How do respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis differ in their causes?

  Respiratory acidosis is due to CO₂ retention
• How do respiratory alkalosis and metabolic alkalosis differ in their mechanisms?

  Respiratory alkalosis involves CO₂ loss
• What is the relationship between pH and carbonic acid in respiratory conditions?

  Increased carbonic acid decreases pH
• How does the loss of bicarbonate affect pH in metabolic acidosis?

  Loss of bicarbonate decreases buffering capacity
• What is the impact of diuretics on metabolic alkalosis?

  Diuretics cause H⁺ loss in urine
• How does the mechanism of metabolic acidosis differ from metabolic alkalosis?

  Metabolic acidosis involves H⁺ gain