1.

Differentiate respiratory acidosis from respiratory alkalosis

- Respiratory acidosis refers to high levels of acid in the blood due to increased levels of carbon
dioxide (CO2) in the body. The main concern in respiratory acidosis is an increased arterial
partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and a decreased ratio of arterial bicarbonate to arterial pCO2,
which causes the blood pH to decrease. On the other hand, when high levels of carbon dioxide
disrupt the blood's acid-base balance, respiratory alkalosis occurs. It usually happens to patients
who have rapid, uncontrollable breathing (hyperventilation). As a result, an increase in HCO3
(bicarbonate) or decrease in CO2 will cause the blood to become more alkaline. The opposite is
also true, where a decrease in HCO3 or an increase in CO2 cause the blood to become more
acidic.

2. Differentiate metabolic acidosis from metabolic alkalosis

- Metabolic acidosis is the accumulation of acid in the body caused by renal disease or failure. When
your body fluids contain an excessive amount of acid, it implies that your body is either not excreting
enough acid, producing an excessive amount of acid, or unable to balance the acid in your body.
Whereas, a primary increase in bicarbonate (HCO3) with or without a compensatory increase in carbon
dioxide partial pressure is described as metabolic alkalosis. The use of diuretics, hypovolemia, prolonged
vomiting, and hypokalemia are common causes. In any case, regardless of initial cause, persistence of
metabolic alkalosis indicates that the kidneys have increased their HCO3− reabsorption, because HCO3−
is normally freely filtered by the kidneys and hence excreted.

1. How does the respiratory system maintain acid-base balance within the body?
- In the respiratory system, the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen takes place in the alveoli
of the lungs. As we breathe, they take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Red blood cells
transport oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body, then accumulate carbon dioxide and
transport it back to the lungs to be expelled. This gas exchange is how the respiratory system
oxygenates the blood and organ systems. The respiratory system regulates the flow of carbon
dioxide (CO2) to help maintain acid-alkali balance. Respiration can directly affect pH status by
eliminating or conserving CO2. When there is an excess of acidity, bicarbonates will try to
eliminate the excess CO2 by neutralizing the fluids. On the other hand, if the pH is too alkaline,
ventilation is inhibited, and the respiratory rate decreases to try to maintain lower CO2 levels.

2. Discuss briefly the relationship of pH and hydrogen ions.

- The concentration of hydrogen ions in an acidic solution relies on the concentration or molarity of the
acidic solution. An acid with a higher molarity will have a higher concentration of hydrogen ions and
hence a lower pH value. However, in an alkaline solution, the concentration of hydrogen ions depends
on the concentration or molarity of the alkaline solution. By increasing the molarity of an alkaline
solution, concentration of hydrogen ions increases and its pH value increases. To put it briefly, acid
strength is reflected in how many hydrogen ions are in solution. The more hydrogen ions the lower the
pH and vice-versa.
3. Explain briefly how the renal system helps maintain acid-base balance.

- The kidneys have two very important roles in maintaining the acid–base balance: reabsorb bicarbonate
from urine and excrete hydrogen ions into urine. The physiology of renal system has several powerful
mechanisms to control pH by the excretion of excess acid or base. By adjusting the amounts reabsorbed
and secreted, renal system balance the bloodstream’s pH. In reaction to acidosis, tubular cells reabsorb
more bicarbonate from the tubular fluid, collecting duct cells release more hydrogen and create more
bicarbonate, and ammonia genesis increases NH3 buffer production. Alternatively, kidneys may expel
more bicarbonate in response to alkalosis by decreasing hydrogen ion release from tubular epithelial
cells and slowing glutamine metabolism and ammonium excretion.