The TCA cycle generates NADH from NAD+, FADH2 from FAD, and two ATP molecules. Since patients are often deficient, it is worth noting that magnesium is a cofactor for two reactions in glycolysis.Įventually, the pyruvate molecules are oxidized and enter into the TCA Cycle. This process does not need oxygen to occur. Glycolysis uses two ATP and creates four ATP, meaning it generates two net ATP. The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysis, which takes a six-carbon glucose and breaks it down into two pyruvate molecules which contain three carbons each.

Ĭ6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H20 + energy (38 ATP molecules and heat) While not necessary, it can be useful to employ this terminology to distinguish between individual processes and the overall pH status of the patient since multiple imbalances can happen at the same time. When using the term acidemia or alkalemia, one is denoting that overall the pH is acidic or alkalotic, respectively. It is rare for the compensation to make the pH completely normal at 7.4. For example, if a person is experiencing a metabolic acidemia, their body will attempt to induce a respiratory alkalosis to compensate. If one of these conditions occurs, the human body should induce a counterbalance in the form of an opposite condition. The human body experiences four main types of acid-based disorders: metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, and respiratory alkalosis.

This discussion intends to impart a basic understanding of acid-base balance in the body while providing a systematic way to approach patients who present with conditions causing alterations in pH. Due to the importance of sustaining a pH level in the needed narrow range, the human body contains compensatory mechanisms. Also, many of the intermediates of biochemical reactions in the body become ionized at a neutral pH, which causes the utilization of these intermediates to be more difficult.Ī pH below 7.35 is an acidemia, and a pH above 7.45 is an alkalemia. Why this number? Why not a neutral number of 7.0 instead of a slightly alkaline 7.40? A pH at this level is ideal for many biological processes, one of the most important being the oxygenation of blood. In the absence of pathological states, the pH of the human body ranges between 7.35 to 7.45, with the average at 7.40. One of these is maintaining an acid-base balance. To maintain homeostasis, the human body employs many physiological adaptations.

Acid base balance made easy pdf