Metabolic Acidosis

• What is the cause of metabolic acidosis? Click all that apply.

___ Excess H+ generated within the body

___ Loss of base from the body

___ Deficit of H+ within the body

___ Gain of base in the body

• Metabolic acidosis can be caused by either a gain of acid or a loss of base from the body.

• Which of the following would be observed in simple, uncompensated metabolic acidosis?

___ CO₂ rises

___ CO₂ falls

___ HCO₃^- rises

___ HCO₃^- falls

• HCO₃^- levels fall due to loss of HCO₃^- from the body or increased acid reacting with HCO₃^-.

• What system will compensate for respiratory acidosis?

___ Respiratory system

___ Renal system

• Because the problem is metabolic in origin, the respiratory system compensates.

• As a result of compensation, which direction will this reaction go?

CO₂ + H₂O H₂CO₃ HCO₃^- + H⁺

Carbon dioxide Water Carbonic acid Bicarbonate Hydrogen ion

• The increased H⁺ causes the equilibrium reaction of this reaction to shift to the left.

• Will this individual hyperventilate or hypoventilate?

___ Hyperventilate

___ Hypoventilate

• The individual hyperventilates to blow off the excess carbon dioxide which is generated.

Category: Biochemistry Notes