Understand the Concepts:Acid-base balance and buffering system of PH: Although the pH scale is concerned with acidity and alkalinity relative to pure water, for biological purposes, acidity and alkalinity relative to the
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Understand the Concepts:Acid-base balance and buffering system of PH: Although the pH scale is concerned with acidity and alkalinity relative to pure water, for biological purposes, acidity and alkalinity relative to the typical range of the pH of blood is the primary focus. Blood has a normal pH range of 7.35-7.45. A pH that deviates far outside this range can be lethal. If a person has a blood pH of <7.35 the person is said to be acidotic or have acidosis, if a person has a blood pH of >7.45 the person has alkalosis or is alkalotic. The bicarbonate buffer system minimizes the impact on a systems pH from the onslaught of an acid or a base. Buffers are reactions in a dynamic equilibrium that can neutralize bases and acids without meaningfully affecting the pH. The maintenance of acid-base balance is crucial for survival. The body is relatively adroit at compensating for variations in pH by employing the acid-base buffer reaction.Airway infections:Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a common, primarily pediatric viral respiratory tract illness. It is caused by swelling of the upper airways and is often preceded by cold or flu like symptoms until the airway begins to swell. It is hallmarked by the barking seal like cough. The treatment for this infection is often as simple as a change in environment. Epiglottitis is a severe and often life threatening emergency characterized by swelling of the epiglottis causedby infection with th
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