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Acids, Bases & Blood Buffering Systems

Author: Meg O'Mahony

Buffers: Achieving Acid-Base Equilibrium

This tutorial on buffers explains what they are and how they work to achieve acid-base equilibrium in the body fluids (blood, interstitial fluid and cytoplasm). The major Buffering systems are covered, with the emphasis on how buffering occurs in the blood. In addition, the roles of the lungs and the kidneys in maintaining pH equilibrium are addressed. The role of the kidneys will be discussed in more detail in the next two tutorials. The tutorial finishes with an introduction to acidosis and alkalosis.

Source: M. O'Mahony, open source images.

Student Notes Template: Buffers

This is the student notes template for the Buffers Tutorial.

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Source: M. O'Mahony, open source images

Virtual Tutorial on Buffers in the Body

http://www.johnwiley.net.au/highered/interactions/media/Balancing/content/Balancing/ur6a/screen0.swf

This is an excellent tutorial!  View:                                                                                                                                 1.1  Normal and abnormal blood pH                                                                                                                             1.2   Methods that regulate pH                                                                                                                                        2.1 Chemical buffers                                                                                                                                                       2.2 Chemical Buffers - Protein buffers                                                                                                                            2.3 Chemical Buffers - Phosphate Buffer System                                                                                                          2.4  Chemical Buffers - Carbonate Buffer System                                                                                                          3.1 Role of the Respiratory System                                                                                                                                3.2 Role of the Respiratory System - Role of Altered Ventilation Rates                                                                        4.1 Role of the Urinary System (treat this as an intro to the 1st 2 lessons after the break).

 

Source: John Wiley.net.au

Animation on Buffers

http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/chemistry/essentialchemistry/flash/buffer12.swf

This animation is a perspective of how buffers work from a physical chemistry perspective.

Source: mhhe.com

Animation on Buffers (simple)

Source: stolaf.edu

Bicarbonate Buffer System and pH imbalances

This is a good explanation of how buffers work in the blood as well as the roles of the lungs and kidneys in interacting with the bicarbonate buffer system. It integrates the concepts of alkalosis and acidosis easily into the lung and kidney function.

Source: Julia Hensler

Interactive Activity on Biological Buffers

Source: Austin Community College

Preparation of Buffers

http://www.chembio.uoguelph.ca/educmat/chm19104/chemtoons/chemtoons5.htm

This web tutorial explains how a simple acetate buffer is made, and how it works.

Source: University of Guelph, ChemBio