Archive for the ‘blood ph’ Category
what is the adaptive advantage for the human body to maintain a constant blood PH?
what is the adaptive advantage for the human body to maintain a constant blood ph
From a defensive stand point, many bacteria or viruses cannot survive outside a certain pH range. From a functional stand point, many of our bodily functions depend upon the chemical gradients created by differences in pH’s across barriers. So for Na-K pumps to work the electrons need a certain pH level. The kidneys function on a pH gradient. Lungs… Stomach…etc.
What role does exhalation of carbon dioxide play in maintaining relatively constant blood pH?
Its part of the bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system.
You can see the reaction here:
http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~courses/genchem/Tutorials/Buffers/carbonic.htm
An excess of CO2 in the blood would cause the reaction equilibrium to shift to the left creating more H2CO3.
How might excessively high body temperature or acidosis (acidic blood pH) interfere with enzyme activity?
Virtually no chemical reaction can occur in the body in the absence of enzymes.
How might excessively high body temperature or acidosis (acidic blood ph) interfere with enzyme activity?
High body temperature or low pH will affect the structures of enzymes. In the presence of one of these things, many enzymes (proteins) will denature (unfold). Once denatured, they are no longer effective. This fits along the major biological theme of "structure determines function." Once the structure of the enzyme has been changed like this, it’s ability to function will be reduced or eliminated.
Describe the two mechanisms by which kidneys help maintain blood pH?
The kidney can correct any imbalances by:
•Removing excess acid (hydrogen ion) or bases (bicarbonate) in the urine and
•Restoring the bicarbonate concentration in the blood to normal
The kidney cells produce a constant amount of hydrogen ion and bicarbonate because of their own cellular metabolism (production of carbon dioxide). Through a carbonic anhydrase reaction similar to the red blood cells, hydrogen ions get produced and secreted into the lumen of the nephron. Also, bicarbonate ions get produced and secreted into the blood. In the lumen of the nephron, filtered bicarbonate combines with secreted hydrogen ions to form carbon dioxide and water (carbonic anhydrase is also present on the luminal surface of the kidney cells). Whether the kidney removes hydrogen ions or bicarbonate ions in the urine depends upon the amount of bicarbonate filtered in the glomerulus from the blood relative to the amount of hydrogen ions secreted by the kidney cells. If the amount of filtered bicarbonate is greater than the amount of secreted hydrogen ions, then bicarbonate will be lost in the urine. Likewise, If the amount of secreted hydrogen ion is greater than the amount of filtered bicarbonate, then hydrogen ions will be lost in the urine (i.e. acidic urine).
what would apollo 13 blood ph levels be when they were suffocating due to adequate amount of oxygen?
Acidotic. [ below 7.35 ]