What is metabolic acidosis?
A metabolic acidosis is a metabolic process resulting in increased [H + ]; there are two main etiologies:
A. The addition of an acid (shift in equation 1 from left to right).Buffer systems to remove a H + load.Although equations 2 and 3 describe buffer systems to remove H + in terms of chemistry of this process, there is a different emphasis in physiologic terms. In this context, flux through equation 2 must be minimized. This occurs if these added H + are forced to bind to bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) by lowering the PCO 2 in capillaries of skeletal muscles (equation 3) where this buffer system is most abundant, thereby pulling equation 3 to the right, which lowers the concentration of H + in plasma and minimizes binding of H + to intracellular proteins in vital organs (e.g., brain and heart).
B. The loss of HCO 3 , usually with sodium (Na + ) (NaHCO 3 ), or potassium (K + ), or both, shift in equation 3 from right to left).