Acid Base Balance: Bicarbonate Ion Buffer

DrBruce Forciea

10 May 201703:05

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the bicarbonate buffer system, crucial for maintaining blood pH within a narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45. It explains how blood acidity or alkalinity can lead to serious health issues, including coma and death. The bicarbonate ion acts as the primary buffer, regulating hydrogen ion concentration by forming carbonic acid when pH drops and dissociating into hydrogen and bicarbonate ions when pH rises. The video also discusses the role of the respiratory system in pH regulation, highlighting how changes in respiration rates can influence hydrogen ion concentration. This informative overview emphasizes the importance of acid-base balance in the body.

Takeaways

🩸 The bicarbonate buffer system is crucial for maintaining blood pH within a narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45.
⚖️ Abnormal blood pH levels can lead to severe health issues, including coma and death.
🔧 Buffers in the body help regulate blood pH, with bicarbonate being the most important.
💧 Acids release hydrogen ions, increasing acidity, while bases combine with hydrogen ions, increasing alkalinity.
🧪 An increase in hydrogen ions (acidosis) leads bicarbonate to form carbonic acid.
🌡️ A decrease in hydrogen ions (alkalosis) causes carbonic acid to dissociate into hydrogen and bicarbonate ions.
🔄 The equilibrium between hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions is vital for pH balance.
🌬️ The respiratory system aids pH regulation by adjusting the respiration rate based on blood acidity.
⬇️ Increased acidity in blood causes an increase in respiration rate to expel carbon dioxide and lower hydrogen ions.
⬆️ Decreased acidity in blood leads to a slower respiration rate, increasing hydrogen ion concentration.

Q & A

What is the normal pH range of blood?
-The normal pH range of blood is between 7.35 and 7.45.
What are the consequences of abnormal blood pH?
-Abnormal blood pH can lead to serious health issues, including coma and death.
What is a buffer in the context of blood pH?
-A buffer is a substance that helps maintain a stable pH in the blood by neutralizing excess acids or bases.
What is the most important buffer in the blood?
-The most important buffer in the blood is the bicarbonate ion buffer.
How do acids affect the pH of a solution?
-Acids increase the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, which lowers its pH and makes it more acidic.
What role do bases play in pH regulation?
-Bases combine with hydrogen ions to neutralize them, which decreases the hydrogen ion concentration and raises the pH, making the solution more alkaline.
What happens to bicarbonate ions when there is an excess of hydrogen ions in the blood?
-When there is an excess of hydrogen ions, bicarbonate ions combine with them to form carbonic acid, which helps to lower acidity.
What occurs when there is a deficiency of hydrogen ions in the blood?
-A deficiency of hydrogen ions causes carbonic acid to dissociate into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, increasing hydrogen ion concentration.
How does the respiratory system help regulate blood pH?
-The respiratory system regulates blood pH by adjusting the respiration rate to control carbon dioxide levels, which in turn affects hydrogen ion concentration.
What is the relationship between hydrogen ion concentration and carbon dioxide concentration?
-Hydrogen ion concentration in the blood closely follows carbon dioxide concentration, with higher carbon dioxide levels leading to increased hydrogen ions and lower pH.