Acidosis is defined as what?

Acidosis is defined as what?

• A. Low oxygen in tissues
• B. Low blood sugar
• C. Excessive alkalinity of body fluids
• D. Excessive acidity of body fluids

Answer: (D)

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.