Question

Anatomy and physiology question!

A baby has diarrhea and is so dehydrated that her kidneys are not making urine. Fortunately , her lungs sound clear and seem normal.

What affect does diarrhea have on her arterial pH? Why?

What affect does kidney shut down have on her arterial pH? Why?

Answer 1

I think the condition will lead to acidosis and thus the blood pH will decrease

Answer 2

Metabolic acidosis right? Can you explain why it decreases? Thanks!

Answer 3

Simply we can say that, because due to renal dysfunction metabolic acids will not get removed from the body

Answer 4

Got it! Do you know how the bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system can compensate for the ph problem? Last question what affect does the pH have on the baby's nervous system?

Answer 5

@orion92898 @Abhisar It would result in decreased pH as stated. Buffers, by definition, have a very stable range of pH values near the disassociation constant of the acid. The physics/chemistry of it are rather intense and are usually not discussed in until college/university.

We can talk about that if you want. I also still have a hand written review sheet that I made for my students and can attach that file here.

Answer 6

@Abhisar could I please bother you with a couple more questions?

Answer 7

@oroutdoors Here is that file I was talking about.

Answer 8

Thank you @mrdoldum !

Answer 9

Thanks @mrdoldum! If I had to make up arterial pH and CO2 cumbers that would be reasonable for my patient. (above)^^. Would an Arterial pH of 7.32 and CO2 of 34 be right?

Answer 10

35*

Answer 11

@oroutdoors For the sick patient or normal patient? Those are normal if I recall. I know the blood is close to normal.

Answer 12

For metabolic acidosis. My notes say normal range for arterial pH 7.35 and 7.45 and normal arterial co2 ranges between 35 and 45

Answer 13

@oroutdoors 7.35 is the lowest normal, so anything beneath that is good.

Answer 14

Would it be safe to say her arterial pH from diarrhea decrease is caused by loss of fluid?

Answer 15

@oroutdoors Oh, I forgot, fetuses don't have the same pH for blood. I will have to look it up.

Answer 16

@Ourolddirtypig fetal pH of less than 7.2 is acidic with a range of 7.25 to 7.45. Diarrhea and kidney's shutting down is a doubly bad. Loss of water concentrates the acid molecules and loss of kidney function means less of the acidic molecules are excreted by the body.

Answer 17

Got it! one more question what would the affect of the baby's pH level have on her nervous system?