Acid-Base Balance

What the resources cover

The page sits in the Renal Physiology, Fluids and Acid-Base strand of Physiology. Almost all of it is written at university level. The flashcard decks start with the basics: which ion is being held steady, why H+ binds to proteins, the law of mass action and the equation for pH. Later decks move to the anion gap, blood gas indices and how to evaluate acid-base status.

Where to start

Begin with the deck called Acid-Base Balance, which asks which ion the body is really regulating and compares Na+ and H+ in the extracellular fluid. Then try Homeostasis of pH and Homeostasis of pH Basics. They explain why metabolism makes the body a net producer of acid and what a conjugate base is.

1. Learn the definitions and the pH equation.
2. Move to buffers, including the bicarbonate buffer and the Henderson Hasselbach equation.
3. Study the role of ventilation in acid-base balance.
4. Finish with disorders, anion gap and blood gases.

Using quizzes and maps together

The quiz called Acid Base (Module) starts from a practical question: about 70 mmol of H+ is produced daily, so how does the body keep extracellular pH at 7.4? Try it after the basic decks. Then open mind maps such as Acid/Base Disorders, Arterial Blood Gas Measures and Metabolic Acidosis to see how causes, signs and values connect. Go back to a quiz afterwards and see which questions now feel easier.

For teachers

Teachers can pick a deck, map or quiz for a class and use the Study Guide: Acid-Base Balance quiz as a ready-made check. Every resource was made by GoConqr users, so skim one first to see that it suits your course.

Next step

Choose one deck, work through it, then take a quiz on the same topic. When you spot a gap, build a mind map of your own.