Which condition occurs when the amount of acid generated exceeds the body's buffering capacity?

Which condition occurs when the amount of acid generated exceeds the body's buffering capacity?

• A. Metabolic acidosis
• B. Metabolic alkalosis
• C. Respiratory acidosis
• D. Lactic acidosis

Answer: (A)

When the body generates more acid than its buffering systems can handle, hydrogen ions accumulate and the bicarbonate buffers are used up, causing a drop in pH. That situation is metabolic acidosis. It reflects a metabolic disruption in acid-base balance rather than a problem with ventilation; the lungs may try to compensate by increasing breathing to blow off CO2, but the primary issue is excess acid relative to buffering capacity. This is different from metabolic alkalosis, where there is too much base or loss of acid, and from respiratory acidosis, where CO2 retention due to poor ventilation lowers pH. Lactic acidosis is a specific cause of metabolic acidosis, but the general condition described by the prompt is metabolic acidosis.

When the body generates more acid than its buffering systems can handle, hydrogen ions accumulate and the bicarbonate buffers are used up, causing a drop in pH. That situation is metabolic acidosis. It reflects a metabolic disruption in acid-base balance rather than a problem with ventilation; the lungs may try to compensate by increasing breathing to blow off CO2, but the primary issue is excess acid relative to buffering capacity. This is different from metabolic alkalosis, where there is too much base or loss of acid, and from respiratory acidosis, where CO2 retention due to poor ventilation lowers pH. Lactic acidosis is a specific cause of metabolic acidosis, but the general condition described by the prompt is metabolic acidosis.