blood pH
Arterial acid level
Blood pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of blood, normally maintained between 7.35 and 7.45—slightly alkaline.
The body tightly regulates blood pH because even small deviations disrupt cellular function.
Acidosis occurs when blood becomes too acidic; alkalosis when too alkaline.
The patient's blood pH indicated respiratory acidosis.
- normal rangeExpected healthy limits
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- bicarbonateAcid-neutralizing salt
- hemoglobinErythrocyte's oxygen-binding protein
- carbonicOf carbon compounds
lactic acid · respiratory · metabolic · homeostasis · oxygen · carbon dioxide · carbon dioxide levels · lungs · kidneys · veins · arteries · lactate · hydrogen · ion · balance · neutral · acidic · alkaline