Question

List one effect of acidosis on the body and one of alkalosis(identify the organ system and the outcome of imbalanced pH in the body).

1.

2.

Answer 1

The human body maintains a constant range of ph of blood between 7.34-7.45. Acidosis is defined as the decrease in blood ph below 7.35 where the blood becomes more acidic.
Alkalosis is defined as the increase in blood ph above 7.45 where the blood becomes more alkaline.
1. Effect of acidosis on lungs : hyperventilation and dyspnea

- mechanism : acidosis results in increased H+ concentration in blood. This causes activation of chemoreceptors and stimulates the respiratory centre in brain. The result is stimulation of respiratory muscle to increase rate and depth of breathing which causes hyperventilation and dyspnea.
2. Effect of alkalosis on skeletal muscle : muscle spasm.
Mechanism : In alkalosis the H+ in blood decreases and HCO3- increases resulting in alkalosis. This causes H+ ions to dissociate from blood to compensate for decreased H+ and albumin becomes free. The free albumin binds to calcium resulting in reduced levels of extracellular calcium ion. In ansence of extracellular calcium muscles cannot relax which causes muscle spasm.