In this section there is a brief overview of control of acid-base balance.
A tight control on [H
] is necessary to ensure survival.
The body has several methods to achieve homeostasis with respect to hydrogen
ion concentration. This includes buffer systems, changes in
the pH
effected by excretion of CO
by the lungs and changes in
pH
due to secretion of [H
] by the kidneys.
The body is producing acid every day. This comes as volatile and fixed
acid. The volatile acid is CO
which is produced by
oxidative metabolism, and the fixed acid by metabolism of dietry
proteins.