What is the acceptable pH range for arterial blood?

The acceptable pH range for arterial blood is crucial for maintaining optimal physiological function and ensuring that metabolic processes occur normally. A pH range of 7.35 to 7.45 reflects healthy physiological conditions, indicating that the blood is neither too acidic nor too alkaline.

This range is considered the normal physiological pH range for humans; values falling below this range can indicate acidosis, while values above can suggest alkalosis. The body has several mechanisms, including respiratory and renal systems, to regulate blood pH and maintain it within this narrow range, which is essential for enzyme activity and cellular function.

The other ranges presented do not accurately capture the typical physiological limits for arterial blood pH and would indicate clinically significant imbalances outside a healthy outcome. Thus, understanding this normal range of 7.35 to 7.45 is foundational for assessing patient status and guiding interventions in mechanical ventilation and overall respiratory care.