alkali reserve

reserve /re·serve/ (re-zerv´)

1. to hold back for future use.

2. a supply, beyond that ordinarily used, which may be utilized in emergency.

---

alkali reserve , alkaline reserve the amount of conjugate base components of the blood buffers, the most important being bicarbonate.

cardiac reserve  potential ability of the heart to perform work beyond that necessary under basal conditions.

ovarian reserve  the number and quality of oocytes in the ovaries of a woman of childbearing age.

---

alkali reserve

n.

The sum total of the basic ions of the blood and other body fluids that act as buffers and maintain the normal pH of the blood.

---

reserve,

n something kept in store for future use.

reserve, alkali,

n See reserve, alkaline.

reserve, alkaline,

n (alkali reserve), 1. the amount of buffer compounds (e.g., sodium bicarbonate, dipotassium phosphate, proteins) in the blood capable of neutralizing acids; one of the buffer systems of the blood that can neutralize the acid valences formed in the body. It is made up of the base of weak acid salts and is usually measured by determining the bicarbonate concentration of the plasma.
n 2. the concentration of bicarbonate ions (HCO⁻₃) in the blood. These ions serve as a reserve in that they may be displaced by anions (e.g., Cl⁻, SO₄⁻², PO₄⁻³). Displacement of bicarbonate ions occurs mainly by means of the chloride shift. The role of the buffer system is such that a large influx of acid or base ions from either metabolic function or ingestion can be neutralized by the alkaline reserves from the mineral and protein salts in the blood and tissue fluids. A strong acid is transformed into a weak base. Consequently, the pH level of the blood fluctuates very little, and the tissue cells are constantly bathed in a continuously buffered solution.

reserve, cardiac,

n the reserve strength or pumping ability of the heart, which may be called on in an emergency.

---

alkali

any one of a class of compounds such as sodium hydroxide that form salts with acids and soaps with fats; a base, or substance capable of neutralizing acids. Other properties include a bitter taste and the ability to turn litmus paper from red to blue. Alkalis play a vital role in maintaining the normal functioning of the body chemistry. See also acid-base balance, alkaline, base.

---

alkali disease

see selenium poisoning.

alkali reserve

the ability of the combined buffer systems of the blood to neutralize acid. The pH of the blood normally is slightly on the alkaline side, between 7.35 and 7.45. Since the principal buffer in the blood is bicarbonate, the alkali reserve is essentially represented by the plasma bicarbonate concentration. However, hemoglobin, phosphates and other bases also act as buffers. A lowered alkali reserve means a state of acidosis; increased reserve indicates alkalosis. Alkali reserve is measured by the combining power of carbon dioxide, which is the amount of carbon dioxide that can be bound as bicarbonate by the blood.