Question

Mrs. Roberts, in a diabetic coma, has just been admitted to Noble Hospital. Her blood $\mathrm{pH}$ indicates that she is in severe acidosis (low blood $\mathrm{pH}$ ), and measures are quickly instituted to bring her blood pH back within normal limits. (a) Define pH and note the normal $\mathrm{pH}$ of blood. (b) Why is severe acidosis a problem?

Name: Problem 25, Chapter 2: Human Anatomy & Physiology
Uploaded: 2020-07-02T03:00:38-08:00
Duration: 2 min 18 s
Channel: Mariana Roldan
Description: Mrs. Roberts, in a diabetic coma, has just been admitted to Noble Hospital. Her blood pH indicates that she is in severe acidosis (low blood pH ), and measures are quickly instituted to bring her blood pH back within normal limits. (a) Define pH and note the normal pH of blood. (b) Why is severe acidosis a problem?

   Mrs. Roberts, in a diabetic coma, has just been admitted to Noble Hospital. Her blood $\mathrm{pH}$ indicates that she is in severe acidosis (low blood $\mathrm{pH}$ ), and measures are quickly instituted to bring her blood pH back within normal limits. (a) Define pH and note the normal $\mathrm{pH}$ of blood. (b) Why is severe acidosis a problem?

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Elaine N. Marieb,… 11th Edition

Chapter 2, Problem 25

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Mariana Roldan

07/02/2020

Step 1

The pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. It is represented mathematically as: \[pH = -\log[H^+]\] where $H^+$ is the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. Show more…

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Mrs. Roberts, in a diabetic coma, has just been admitted to Noble Hospital. Her blood $\mathrm{pH}$ indicates that she is in severe acidosis (low blood $\mathrm{pH}$ ), and measures are quickly instituted to bring her blood pH back within normal limits. (a) Define pH and note the normal $\mathrm{pH}$ of blood. (b) Why is severe acidosis a problem?

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Key Concepts

pH is a logarithmic scale used to quantify the acidity or basicity of a solution by measuring its hydrogen ion concentration. It is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions (H+), meaning that lower pH values reflect higher acidity and higher values indicate greater alkalinity.

Normal Blood pH Range

The normal pH range for human blood is tightly maintained between 7.35 and 7.45. This narrow range is crucial for proper cellular function, enzyme activity, and overall metabolic stability, as even slight deviations can disrupt numerous biological processes.

Acidosis

Acidosis refers to a condition in which the blood pH falls below the normal range, indicating an excess of hydrogen ions. Severe acidosis can impair enzymatic and metabolic functions, disrupt oxygen delivery to tissues, and lead to significant cellular and organ dysfunction, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications.

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