Metabolic acidosis/Definition

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