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The kidneys place a role in determining the body's ACID-BASE balance - that is, they help to ensure that the pH of the blood does not fall below or rise above 7.3.
There are two possible routes by which pH can change:
RESPIRATORY CAUSES
* Respiratory Acidosis results from a HIGH blood gas concentration of CO2 which becomes carbonic acid when dissolved in water. This usually occurs because the patient just isn't breathing effectively enough - such as in morphine overdose where the automatic control of ventilation is suppressed. The body must compensate for this dangerous decrease in pH (to put things into perspective, a pH of 6.8 will mean life is NOT sustainable) and in the case of RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS, it employs a RENAL compensation. If the normal buffering systems in the blood are overwhelmed (haemoglobin, bicarbonate, phospate and plasma proteins all usually help to mop up excess acid) then the kidney excretes more acid, and reabsorbs more bicarbonate. This INCREASES the buffering capacity of the blood, and reduces the acid content.
* Respiratory Alkalosis results from a LOW blood gas concentration of CO2. This can occur during HYPERVENTILATION (e.g. during a panic attack, or during the early stages of an Asthma attack). The lungs are 'blowing off' higher levels of carbon dioxide than necessary, and this pulls the pH up. The kidney also plays a role here, by doing the opposite: it DECREASES excretion of acid, and reabsorbs less bicarbonate, so DECREASING the buffering capacity of the blood, and increasing the acid content. This serves to pull the pH back down to normal levels.
Renal compensation takes a long time to kick in - up to 5 days - but is effective.
METABOLIC CAUSES
* Metabolic Acidosis is caused by an increased production of acid or a decreased availability of bicarbonate (HCO3). Lots of different things can cause a metabolic acidosis. These depend on the ANION GAP (i.e. the ratio of positively charged ions to negatively charged ones). Acidosis with a normal anion gap can be due to longstanding diarrohoea, or glue sniffing. An increased anion gap in acidosis can be an indication of lactic acidosis or diabetic ketoacidosis. The compensation for these is via the RESPIRATORY system. Chemoreceptors around the body detect the fall in pH and INCREASE the breathing rate - effectively causing hyperventilation. This makes us blow off more carbon dioxide, and thus decreases the acid content of the blood.
* Metabolic Alkalosis is caused by a decreased production of acid, or an increased availability of HCO3. Vommitting can cause this, where acidic H+ ions are lost. Anything which causes HYPOKALAEMIA (i.e. a low level of potassium) can also cause this. This happens because, in the kidney, hydrogen and potassium ions are exchanged. Less available potassium, means less hydrogen can be absorbed, and so the pH increases. The body reacts to this with RESPIRATORY compensation - we decrease our breathing. This increases the CO2 content of the blood are decreases the pH back towards the normal value.
Respiratory compensation happens very rapidly, but is much less effective at maintaining pH.
What else can I help you with?
What organ filters blood to maintain a constant blood PH level?
The kidney filters blood to maintain a constant blood pH level by regulating the levels of bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions in the blood through processes like reabsorption and excretion.
How does the kidney help maintain a constant blood pH?
The kidneys help maintain a constant blood pH by regulating the levels of ions, such as hydrogen and bicarbonate ions, in the blood. They remove excess acids or bases from the body through filtration and excretion in the urine, helping to keep the blood pH within a normal range.
Does kidney regulate PH of the blood?
Yes, the kidneys help regulate the pH of the blood by excreting hydrogen ions (acidic) or bicarbonate ions (basic) into the urine. This helps maintain the body's pH within a narrow range to support normal cellular function.
What organ is involved with regulating the pH of blood?
The kidney is primarily responsible for regulating the pH of blood by excreting excess acids or bases in urine. The lungs also play a role in maintaining blood pH by controlling the levels of carbon dioxide through respiration.
if a drop in pH of the blood occur, the kidney will?
It will stop working properly. When the kidney is in this state, it is known as metabolic acidosis.
Does tubular secretion control blood pH?
Tubular secretion plays a minor role in regulating blood pH compared to other mechanisms such as respiration and kidney filtration. It primarily helps in the elimination of excess hydrogen ions and other solutes from the blood to maintain acid-base balance within the body.
What organs filter blood and work to maintain a constant blood PH level?
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The homeostatic mechanism in humans that regulates blood pH depends on the feedback of information from?
The homeostatic mechanism in humans that regulates blood pH depends on the feedback of information from chemoreceptors located in the brainstem and peripheral tissues. These chemoreceptors detect changes in the levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen ions in the blood, allowing the body to adjust respiration and kidney function to maintain a stable pH.
What functions to maintain osmotic and pH balance in the blood?
The kidneys help maintain osmotic balance by regulating the amount of water reabsorbed or excreted in the urine. They also help maintain pH balance through the excretion of hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions in response to changes in blood pH. The lungs and buffer systems in the blood also play a role in regulating pH balance.
Regulatory function of blood?
maintain normal PH in body tissues.
Besides ridding the body of wastes formed during cell metabolism the kidney adjusts blood chemistry in other ways .What are these three other ways?
The kidney regulates blood pressure by adjusting the volume of blood and levels of sodium and water in the body. It also helps maintain the balance of electrolytes and pH levels in the blood by filtering and excreting excess ions and acids. Finally, the kidney produces hormones like erythropoietin and renin that help regulate blood cell production and blood pressure, respectively.
Which of these monitor the pH levels in the blood?
The kidneys and the lungs play a role in monitoring and regulating pH levels in the blood. The kidneys help to excrete or retain bicarbonate ions to maintain blood pH, while the lungs control the levels of carbon dioxide, which can affect blood pH.
