Question

The term "alkaline tide" implies that the pH of the blood in gastric veins is?

1) greater during digestion of a large meal than following a 24-hour fast.
2) constant because of buffering.
3) greater following a 24-hour fast than during digestion of a large meal.
4) None of the answers are correct.

Answer 1

The 'alkaline tide' means a higher pH in the blood in gastric veins during digestion than during fasting due to bicarbonate ions released by the stomach.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "alkaline tide" refers to the phenomenon where the pH of the blood in gastric veins is higher during digestion of a meal than during fasting. This occurs because the stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) to digest food, and in doing so, it secretes bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) into the blood. This bicarbonate acts as a buffer and raises the pH of the blood, making it more alkaline. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 1) greater during digestion of a large meal than following a 24-hour fast.