Nursing 2230A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Hypercholesterolemia, Cardiovascular Disease, Nephron
17 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Acid-base balance exists when the rate at which the body produces and gains acids or bases, through cellular metabolism and gastrointestinal absorption, equals the rate at which acids or bases are excreted. The balance results in a stable concentration of hydrogen ions (h+) in body fluids that is expressed as the ph value. Hydrogen ions are primarily excreted by the kidneys. The ph is also a reflection of the balance between co2, which is regulated by the lungs, and bicarbonate, a base regulated by the kidneys. Normal ph is maintained by chemical buffers, and buffer systems and regulatory mechanisms in the kidneys and lungs. A buffer is a substance or group of substances that can absorb or release hydrogen ions to stabilize ph, such as bicarbonate, phosphate, and proteins. Buffer systems are combinations of a weak acid and a weak base and are the short-term regulators of acid-base balance.
