MAINTANENCE OF NORMAL PH

• There are three natural systems in our body which

regulate and maintain the normal PH and also provide
defense against change in the PH of the body.

1 . Acid base Buffer System (Chemical)

2 . Respiratory System
3. Renal System
1. Chemical Buffer Systems
~ 1st to respond
~ Take < 1 sec.
~ Temporarily “tie up” excess acids &
bases
THREE TYPES OF BUFFER mainly
1.Carbonic acid – Bicarbonate buffer
2.Phosphate buffer
3.Protein buffer
2. Respiratory Mechanism
~ 2nd to respond
~ Takes 1-3 minutes
~ Respiratory centre involved
~ Removes CO2 & therefore H2CO3

3. Renal Mechanism
~ 3rd to respond but most potent
~ Takes hours to days
~ Kidneys remove metabolic acids
Eg phosphoric, uric & lactic acids;
ketone bodies
1-Chemical Buffer Systems

• A buffer solution is a solution that

resists any change in its PH when a
small amount of acid or a base is
added to it.
 Composition of buffer
• A buffer solution consists of weakly
dissociated acid (proton donor) and its
conjugate salt of strong base (proton
acceptor) or a weak base and its
conjugated strong salt.
 • General Components

A buffer contains:

~ a weak acid & its strong salt

or
~ a weak base & its strong salt

31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 6

Effect of acid
and base on
water

Effect of
acids and
base on
buffer
solution
31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 7
1-Chemical Buffer Systems
1. Extra cellular fluid buffers are:

• Bicarbonate buffer
• Protein buffer ( Hb, plasma protein, amino acids).

2. Intercellular buffer are:

• Phosphate buffer
• Protein buffer (Hb, plasma protein, amino
acids).

The strength of a buffers solution is given as

molar.
ECF
BUFFERS
Bicarbonate
Buffer System
(Carbonic
Acid )

~ Most
important in the
ECF

Pka : 6.1
 Bicarbonate Buffer System
(Carbonic Acid )
• The plasma bicarbonate(HCO3-) con is
24mmol/l.
• Carbonic acid con( product of PCO2 and
solubility constant of CO2(40X0.03 )1.2mmol/l).
• At PH 7.4 the bicarbonate to carbonic acid ratio
is 20:1.
• PH = pka +log (base)
(acid)
 Bicarbonate Buffer System
• It consist typically a mixture of H2CO3 and NaHCO3.

• When a strong acid is added :

HCI + NaHCO3 ……….> H2CO3 + NaCI

. When a strong base is added :

NaOH + H2CO3 …………> NaHCO3 + H2O.

. Bicarbonate buffer system is the chief buffer system of plasma

against fixed acids .
pKa = 6.1 (equalibrium or dissociation constant )

. Serum level = 24 mmol/L

. Buffer equation :
PH = pKa + Iog HCO3-/ CO2
31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 12
31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 13
• Phosphate
Buffer system

~ Important in
ICF & urine
Pka 6.8
 Phosphate Buffer system
• At PH 7.4 the sodium dihydrogen phosphate
and disodium hydrogen phosphate
(NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4) ratio is 4:1.
• Present in low concentration but due to its
pka value 6.8 it is very effective.
 PHOSPHATE BUFFER SYSTEM
Typically of a mixture of Na2HPO4 (salt ) and
NaH2PO4 (salt )
. pKa = 6.8 (equalibrium or dissociation
constant )

. When a strong acid is added :

HCI + NaH2PO4 ………> NaH2PO4 + NaCI

. When a strong base is added :

NaOH + NaH2PO4 ……..> NaHPO4 + H2O
Buffer equation

PH= pKa + log HPO4-/H2PO4-

• Protein Buffer
Systems

~ Important in
ECF and ICF

~ Interact with
other buffer
systems
 Protein Buffer Systems
• 1.plasma protein buffer
• 2. amino acid buffer
• 3. hemoglobin buffer system.
The buffering capacity of of protein system of the
blood dependent on the pk of the ionizable group of
amino acids
The imadazole group of histadine pk=6.7 is the most
effective of protein buffers.
The plasma buffers account for 2% of total buffering
capacity of the plasma.
Protein Buffer Systems

Hb Buffer system

~ RBC only ICF

~ Helps prevent   pH when   PCO2
 Amino Acid Buffers (all proteins)

Plasma Protein Buffers

~ Slower than other chemical buffers
~ Remove either excess H+ or excess
OH- depending on pH
 PROTEIN BUFFER SYSTEM
• It consist of intracellular and plasma proteins
• pKa = 7.4

• When strong acid is added :

Amino acid accepts excess of H+ ions to increase PH to
normal

. When strong base is added :

Amino acid release H+ ions to decrease PH to normal
. Buffer equation =
PH = pKa + log protein-/H. protein
.
• If  pH (more basic)  [OH- ] Amino
acid acts like an acid R

NH2 – C – COO- + H+


H
• If  pH (more acidic)  [H+]
Amino acid acts like a base R

NH3+ – C – COOH


H
 Hb Hemoglobin
erythrocyte
• Plasma CO2+H2O Lungs
CA
CO2

H2CO3
HHb
HCO3- HCO3 + H
HHb+o2
Hb
CI

CI- H+ HCO3- HbO2

 IMPORTANCE
• Buffers are the 1st line defence against
strong acids or base which might get entry
into the living body.
• Any condition that change the balance of
any one of Buffer system also changes the
balance of others . This phenomenon is
called isohydric principle.
2.Respiratory mechanism of buffering
2CO2+H2O Exhaled
Carbonic anhydrase

2H2CO3 2CO2+H2O
Hb4O2
2HCO3- 2H+ H2CO3-

4O2 2H+ 2HCO3-

4O2
Periphral tissues Hb2H Lungs
 3-Renal buffering mechanism
Blood renal cell tubular lumen
Na+ Na+ Na+

HCO3- HCO3- H+ H+ B-

H2CO3 HB
carbonic anhydrase
CO2 + H2O Excreted
 1. REGULATION OF ACID-BASE
BALANCE
BLOOD NORMAL PH:
Homeostatic range for blood pH 7.35 –
7.45
 or  can be fatal

 pH < 7.35 Acidosis

 pH > 7.45 Alkalosis
 ACIDOSIS:
A pathochemical condition
accompanied by lowering of
blood PH below 7.36.
• RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS
• METABOLIC ACIDOSIS

31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 30

 Respiratory Acidosis
Of respiratory origin
~ Shallow breathing
~  CO2 exhaled
 CO2 retained
 CO2  H+ pH <7.35
CAUSES:
1.Lung diseases blocking gas diffusion eg pneumonia,
emphysema
2 .Defects of higher respiratory centre.
3 .Defects of thoracic cage .
4 .Defect in gaseous exchange.
Treatment :
.a. Artificial respiration.
b.31/08/21
Drugs. NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 31
 Metabolic Acidosis
loss of base or retention of acids.
filtration of large no of HCO3- ions so renal buffer
system activated
H+ ion are secreted to remove acid from the body.
 H+  pH < 7.35
causes :
1 .Excessive loss of HCO3.
2 .Ureamic acidosis.
3 .Excessive production of non-volatile acids.
4.Renal diseases
5. Diarrhoea
6.Starvation
Treatment ;
administration of.
a. Sodium bicarbonate.
b. Sodium lactate.
c. Sodium gluconate.

31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 32

 ALKALOSIS:
A pathochimical condition
accompanied by raising of blood
PH above 7.4

• RESPIRATORY ALKLOSIS
• METABOLIC ALKALOSIS

31/08/21 NSC1951 Lecture 19: Buffers 33

 Respiratory Alkalosis

Of respiratory origin
 CO2 exhaled
Hyperventilation
 CO2  H+  pH > 7.45

CAUSES:.
Anxiety , hysteria ,tension ,pain,
hypoxia , CNS injury etc
Metabolic Alkalosis

Alkalosis due to loss of metabolic or fixed or non-volatile

acids or due to retention of bases
HCO3- ions and Na+ ions are excreted in urine to balance the
PH.
 H+  pH > 7.45
• CAUSES
1.Excessive loss of H+ ions;
2.Excessive ingestion of Alkaline drugs;
3.Administration of diuretics
4. Ingestion Bicarbonate of Soda (NaHCO3)

• TREATMENT
Administration or ingestion of
• 1; Ammonium chloride
• 2; Lysine Monohydrochloride
 Buffers

consist of

Weak acid and or Weak base and

its salt its salt
and

resist changes in pH

to

Maintain pH balance

preventing

Acidosis and Alkalosis 36

 BUFFERS OF PLASMA
• Plasma has three buffer systems
1 .Bicarbonate Buffer system
2 .Phosphate Buffer system
3 .Protein Buffer system
 BUFFERS OF RBC
• In erythrocytes also three different
buffering system function.
1. Bicarbonate – carbonic acid.
2. Oxyhaemoglobinate – Oxyheamoglobin
3. Heamoglobinate - Heamoglobin.
 BUFFERS OF TISSUES
• BUFFERING SYSTEM OF LYMPH.
• BUFFERING SYSTEM OF SPINAL
FLUID.
 MAINTENCE OF BLOOD PH
• The PH of blood is 7.4.
• The chief buffer of the blood which maintains the PH is HCO3 /
H2CO3.
• The ratio HCO3 / H2CO3 is 20 : 1.
• PH = pka + log ( salt ) / ( acid ) .
• pka of H2CO3 is 6.1.
• Salt is HCO3 .
• Acid is H2CO3.
• Ratio is 20:1.
• PH = 6.1 + log 20 / 1.
= 6.1 + 1.3 – negligible.
= 7.4.