Buffers The following steps outline the processes that affect the buffers in the blood during exercise.

Hemoglobin carries O2 from the lungs to the muscles through the blood. The muscles need more O2 than normal, because their metabolic activity is increased during exercise. The amount of oxygen in the muscle is therefore depleted in the muscles, setting up a concentration gradient between the muscle cells and the blood in the capillaries. Oxygen diffuses from the blood to the muscles, via this concentration gradient. The muscles produce CO2 and H+ as a result of increased metabolism, setting up concentration gradients in the opposite direction from the O2 gradient. The CO2 and H+ flow from the muscles to the blood, via these concentration gradients. The buffering action of hemoglobin picks up the extra H+ and CO2. If the amounts of H+ and CO2 exceed the capacity of hemoglobin, they affect the carbonic acid equilibrium (Equation 10), as predicted by Le Chtelier's Principle or the quantitative treatment in terms of equilibrium constants. As a result, the pH of the blood is lowered, causing acidosis. The lungs and kidneys respond to pH changes by removing CO2, HCO3-, and H+ from the blood.

Hence, the body has developed finely-tuned chemical processes (based on buffering and acid-base equilibria) that work in combination to handle the changes that exercise produces. Acids and Bases Body fluids are having balanced quantity of acids and bases and this quantity is maintained by intricate mechanism. The maintenance of this balance quantity is necessary for biochemical reaction talking places in body, because biochemical reaction are very sensitive to even small change of acids and bases. Example: Low pH value in stomach is requiring for functioning of enzyme pepsin which is useful for digestion of food. The pH values of certain body fluids are given in table. Body fluids Blood pH value (in range) 7.4 7.5 Healthy persons blood pH 7.35 (constant) pH < 7.35 acidosis (high hydrogen ion concentration) pH > 7.35 alkalosis (low hydrogen ion concentration) 4.5 8.0 Require for removing excess acids 1.5 3.5 Best suited for enzyme pepsin which is used in digestion 6.0 8.5 7.2 7.6 5.4 7.5 Best suited for enzyme ptyalin which digests carbohydrates

Urine Gastric juice Bile Semen Saliva

Body is having its own buffer system which prevents drastic change in the pH value of blood. It also helps to convert strong acids and bases into weak acids or bases. Lungs and kidney are the main organ which helps to maintain buffer system in the body. In case of low respiration, the accumulated carbon dioxide combines with water and forms carbonic acid which releases hydrogen ions and causes acidosis. CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H+ + HCO3In over breathing, excessive excretion of carbon dioxide occurs and causes alkalosis. Kidney has ability to generate ammonia which neutralizes acid products of protein metabolism and excrete in urine Conditions where metabolic acidosis occurs: 1. Failure to excrete metabolic acids 2. Formation of excessive quantities of metabolic acids like carbonic acids 3. Loss of base from body fluids 4. Absorption of excess metabolic acids

5. 6. 7. 8.

Diabetes mellitus Diarrhoea Excess vomiting Uremia

Conditions where metabolic alkalosis occurs: 1. Administration of diuretics 2. Excessive ingestion of alkaline drugs 3. Loss of chloride ions 4. Endocrine disorder Examples of drugs used in acid-base imbalance: 1. Potassium citrate 2. Potassium acetate 3. Sodium bicarbonate 4. Sodium acetate 5. Sodium citrate 6. Ammonium chloride