Metabolic acidosis/Definition

Refers to an abnormal chemical compositional state of the body that clinicians characterize as abnormally increased acidity &mdash; measured as pH reduction or hydrogen ion concentration [H+ increase &mdash; accompanied by abnormally reduced bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentration in the extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment of the body, acknowledging that in most cases similar compositional abnormalities exist in the intracellular compartment (ICF) as well.