NURN 160: ACID-BASE BALANCE: TEST QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
1) Define acid -- Answer ✔✔ Substances that donate or release a hydrogen ion
when dissolved in water
- Strength of the acid is determined by how easily it releases a hydrogen ion
2) Define base -- Answer ✔✔ Substance that binds free hydrogen ions in solution
- Bases are hydrogen acceptors
3) Define acid-base balance -- Answer ✔✔ the process of regulating pH,
bicarbonate concentration and partial pressure of carbon dioxide of body fluids
4) Acidosis -- Answer ✔✔ Characterized by an excess of hydrogen ions or an
arterial blood pH below 7.35
- can be metabolic, respiratory, or both
5) Alkalosis -- Answer ✔✔ a decrease in the hydrogen ion concentration of the
blood
- blood pH of greater than 7.45
- can be respiratory, metabolic, or both
6) Normal pH range -- Answer ✔✔ 7.35 - 7.45
, 7) buffers -- Answer ✔✔ Substances that either release a hydrogen ion into a fluid
or bind a hydrogen ion from a fluid depending on existing pH
- always try to bring the fluid as close to normal body pH as possible
8) What are the three types of buffers? -- Answer ✔✔ Chemical
Respiratory
Renal
9) compensation -- Answer ✔✔ the process in which the body uses its three
regulatory mechanisms to correct changes in the pH of body fluids
10) A primary metabolic problem will result in _____________ compensation --
Answer ✔✔ respiratory
11) A primary respiratory problem will result in _______________ compensation -
- Answer ✔✔ metabolic
12) respiratory compensation -- Answer ✔✔ - An increase in either H+ ions or
CO2 increases rate and depth of respirations and An increase in pH (alkalosis)
depresses the respiratory center and causes the retention of CO2 which will
lower the pH
- Respiratory compensation happens rapidly
13) renal compensation -- Answer ✔✔ - Kidneys regulate the bicarbonate level by by
excreting or reabsorbing the H+ ion or reabsorbing HCO3
- much slower than respiratory compensation; effects not seen for hours or
even days
- Renal system is responsible for long term regulation of acid-base balance
14) partial compensation -- Answer ✔✔ some PaCO2 or HCO3 compensation
occurs but pH remains abnormal
CORRECT ANSWERS
1) Define acid -- Answer ✔✔ Substances that donate or release a hydrogen ion
when dissolved in water
- Strength of the acid is determined by how easily it releases a hydrogen ion
2) Define base -- Answer ✔✔ Substance that binds free hydrogen ions in solution
- Bases are hydrogen acceptors
3) Define acid-base balance -- Answer ✔✔ the process of regulating pH,
bicarbonate concentration and partial pressure of carbon dioxide of body fluids
4) Acidosis -- Answer ✔✔ Characterized by an excess of hydrogen ions or an
arterial blood pH below 7.35
- can be metabolic, respiratory, or both
5) Alkalosis -- Answer ✔✔ a decrease in the hydrogen ion concentration of the
blood
- blood pH of greater than 7.45
- can be respiratory, metabolic, or both
6) Normal pH range -- Answer ✔✔ 7.35 - 7.45
, 7) buffers -- Answer ✔✔ Substances that either release a hydrogen ion into a fluid
or bind a hydrogen ion from a fluid depending on existing pH
- always try to bring the fluid as close to normal body pH as possible
8) What are the three types of buffers? -- Answer ✔✔ Chemical
Respiratory
Renal
9) compensation -- Answer ✔✔ the process in which the body uses its three
regulatory mechanisms to correct changes in the pH of body fluids
10) A primary metabolic problem will result in _____________ compensation --
Answer ✔✔ respiratory
11) A primary respiratory problem will result in _______________ compensation -
- Answer ✔✔ metabolic
12) respiratory compensation -- Answer ✔✔ - An increase in either H+ ions or
CO2 increases rate and depth of respirations and An increase in pH (alkalosis)
depresses the respiratory center and causes the retention of CO2 which will
lower the pH
- Respiratory compensation happens rapidly
13) renal compensation -- Answer ✔✔ - Kidneys regulate the bicarbonate level by by
excreting or reabsorbing the H+ ion or reabsorbing HCO3
- much slower than respiratory compensation; effects not seen for hours or
even days
- Renal system is responsible for long term regulation of acid-base balance
14) partial compensation -- Answer ✔✔ some PaCO2 or HCO3 compensation
occurs but pH remains abnormal
