Author Question: What drives the bicarbonate buffer systems enormous ability to buffer acids? a. The fact that ... (Read 136 times)

RRMR · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

What drives the bicarbonate buffer systems enormous ability to buffer acids?

a. The fact that H2CO3 is a strong buffer
b. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
c. The large amounts of 2,3-DPG in red blood cells
d. Ventilation continually removing CO2 from system

Question 2

Which of the following systems is primarily responsible for the buffering of fixed acids?

a. Ammonia
b. HCO3
c. Hb
d. Phosphate

moormoney · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
This allows HCO3 to continue buffering H+ as long as ventilation continues. Hypothetically, this buffering activity can continue until all body sources of HCO3 are used up in binding H+ (i.e., the aforementioned reaction is continually pulled to the left because ventilation continually re-moves CO2).

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Most of the added fixed acid is buffered by HCO3 because ventilation continually pulls the re-action to the left.