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Week 5 Case Study: Fluid and Electrolyte/Acid-Base
BIO256: Anatomy & Physiology IV
w/Lab
, 2
1. Understanding that HCl is produced in the stomach and that he has been
vomiting his stomach contents, predict the acid/base imbalance that repeated
vomiting will cause.
Repeated vomiting result in loss of H+ occurs when excess of HCL is lost in the
vomiting. The excess excretion of HCl result in metabolic alkalosis by the accumulation
of bicarbonate ion in the extracellular space. This will create acid/ base imbalance and
increase the pH.
2. Predict the effect on blood chloride level from repeated vomiting?
Repeated vomiting in the infant which constitutes mainly his stomach contents will lead
to hypochloremia that is decrease in chloride content in body.
Repeated vomiting which occurs in the infant is due to pyloric stenosis. Due to pyloric
stenosis the food in the infant's stomach is unable to cross the pylorus of the stomach and
reach the duodenum for further digestion. Due to accumulation of food in the pyloric
region of the stomach, vomiting receptors are stimulated and this leads to vomiting of
gastric contents like H+ and Cl- ions. Since there is loss of Cl- ions from the body through
vomitus, the infant will have low level of chloride ions in the body. Low Chloride content
in the body leads to hypochloremia.
3. "Normal saline" is often used to treat dehydration. What does it mean for the
saline to be "normal"?
Week 5 Case Study: Fluid and Electrolyte/Acid-Base
BIO256: Anatomy & Physiology IV
w/Lab
, 2
1. Understanding that HCl is produced in the stomach and that he has been
vomiting his stomach contents, predict the acid/base imbalance that repeated
vomiting will cause.
Repeated vomiting result in loss of H+ occurs when excess of HCL is lost in the
vomiting. The excess excretion of HCl result in metabolic alkalosis by the accumulation
of bicarbonate ion in the extracellular space. This will create acid/ base imbalance and
increase the pH.
2. Predict the effect on blood chloride level from repeated vomiting?
Repeated vomiting in the infant which constitutes mainly his stomach contents will lead
to hypochloremia that is decrease in chloride content in body.
Repeated vomiting which occurs in the infant is due to pyloric stenosis. Due to pyloric
stenosis the food in the infant's stomach is unable to cross the pylorus of the stomach and
reach the duodenum for further digestion. Due to accumulation of food in the pyloric
region of the stomach, vomiting receptors are stimulated and this leads to vomiting of
gastric contents like H+ and Cl- ions. Since there is loss of Cl- ions from the body through
vomitus, the infant will have low level of chloride ions in the body. Low Chloride content
in the body leads to hypochloremia.
3. "Normal saline" is often used to treat dehydration. What does it mean for the
saline to be "normal"?
