How does your body regulate pH?

Answer 1

pH in the blood? It's regulated within the proximal convoluted tubule of a kidney's nephon.

1. Starting in a capillary:
HCO3- (bicarbonate) + H+ (hydrogen ion from metabolism) --> H2CO3 (carbonic acid) --> H2O (water) + CO2 (carbon dioxide)


2. The water and carbon dioxide then diffuse through the capillary's wall into the kidney's proximal tubule cell wall. Under the influence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase:
CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 --> H+ + HCO3-

This bicarbonate ion is actively transported out back into the blood to maintain pH (i.e. make blood less acidic by cycling back out and binding with another H+ from metabolism).

3. As for the H+ formed at step 2, it passes into the lumen of the tubule where it undergoes this reaction, the same thing that occurs in the capillary:
H+ + HCO3- (from filtration) --> H2CO3 --> H2O (excreted as urine) + CO2

Finally, this carbon dioxide molecule cycles back into the tubule's cell wall where it undergoes the reaction in step 2 and is ultimately reabsorbed by the blood.

It's important also to note that for every H+ that crosses from the cell wall to the lumen at step 3, a sodium ion (Na+) passes back into the cell wall from the lumen.

Answer 2

CO2 + H20 <--> H2CO3 <--> H+ + HCO3-

kidneys secret H+ and also absorb H+ thus manage PH also secret HCO3- and absorb HCO3-

lungs can retain or blow CO2 can also get rid of some acetic acid

Buffers are chemicals that balance PH: Bind UP H+ or drop H+ it into blood to adjust acidity. Some Buffers like Proteins (Hemoglobin), Amino Acids,

Answer 3

The body's pH is not neutral, it's slightly alkaline. Normal blood pH is around 7.4. This value is is maintained by the use of buffers, the main one being the carbonic acid / hydrogen carbonate buffer system.

Answer 4

Living things regulate pH by a buffer that is a chemical or a combination of chemicals that keeps pH within normal limits.

Answer 5

ewan ko sa inyo gago..!:)