Click on lungs or kidney to continue

Some key points -

pH = log 1/ H<sup>+

­</sup>
­Increase H⁺ = decrease pH = ACIDOSIS                      Decrease  H⁺ = increase pH = ALKALOSIS


Respiratory and Metabolic components         [H⁺] proportional to     CO2                 (Respiratory = Lungs)
                                                                                                      HCO3               (Metabolic = Kidneys)
4 simple disturbances of acid base balance

Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis

There are compensatory responses to primary acid base disturbance

Mixed disturbances may occur

The simplest approach to acid base interpretation is to consider the

pH
CO2                  separately
HCO3

and then to combine the information from each so as to arrive at a biochemical diagnosis

These pages on acid base are very much a summary of a large and detailed topic. For more see

This is a good book about acid base!