Acidosis is defined as what?

Study for the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with explanations. Get ready for your certification!

Multiple Choice

Acidosis is defined as what?

Explanation:
Acidosis means there is too much acid in the body’s fluids, lowering their pH below the normal range (the blood’s pH normally sits around 7.35–7.45). This happens when the body can’t remove carbon dioxide effectively (respiratory acidosis) or when bicarbonate is lost or too much nonvolatile acid accumulates (metabolic acidosis). It’s not about oxygen levels in tissues (which would be hypoxia) or blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and it’s not the same as alkalosis, which is too much alkalinity. So the definition is excessive acidity of body fluids.

Acidosis means there is too much acid in the body’s fluids, lowering their pH below the normal range (the blood’s pH normally sits around 7.35–7.45). This happens when the body can’t remove carbon dioxide effectively (respiratory acidosis) or when bicarbonate is lost or too much nonvolatile acid accumulates (metabolic acidosis). It’s not about oxygen levels in tissues (which would be hypoxia) or blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and it’s not the same as alkalosis, which is too much alkalinity. So the definition is excessive acidity of body fluids.

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