One Headache After Another: Biochemistry Edition by Taylor and Cliff

Part III – Regulation

Questions

• 3. Blood pH is normally regulated by the respiratory system to control the level of CO₂ (g) and by the urinary system to control the levels of HCO₃^- and non-volatile acids in the blood.

  

• Given the overall reaction, CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) H₂CO₃ (aq) HCO₃^- (aq) + H⁺ (aq), what effect would each of the following have on blood pH? Explain with LeChatlier’s principle.

  • a. Hyperventilating
  • b. Holding your breath for an extended period of time
  • c. Excessive ingestion of baking soda, HCO₃^-
  • d. Inhibiting renal carbonic anhydrase

• 4. Mary has an acid-base disturbance that is being compensated for with another body system. Identify the type of disturbance and trace out the physiological pathway responsible for the compensating action.

• 5. For each of the treatments listed below, indicate whether you would recommend it (yes) or not (no) to correct Mary’s problem? Explain what effect each treatment would have upon her blood pH.

  • a. Breathing in a paper bag
  • b. An IV containing pure HCO₃^- in an isotonic solution
  • c. Holding her breath for as long as she can
  • d. An IV containing pure CO₃^-2 in an isotonic solution

Copyright © 1999–2012 by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.  Please see our usage guidelines, which outline our policy concerning permissible reproduction of this work.