Discuss the relative importance of respiratory systems and kidney in regulating pH
Discuss the relative importance of respiratory systems and kidney in regulating pH pH is a very tightly controlled parameter in the body 7.35-7.45 It is important to maintain pH to allow functioning of enzymes and ion channels (other proteins e.g haemoglobin bohr effect) Maintenance Buffers Carbonic anhydrase CO2 + H2O <-----> H2CO3 <-----> HCO3- + H+ Respiration and affects CO2 Kidney excretes and produces HCO3- Kidney excretes H+ H+ can come from metabolism and diet. It varies greatly in diets e.g in vegans low H+ is while in meat eaters there is a high H+ pKa of the buffer system is 6.1 but desired pH is 7.4 so minute by minute control by lungs are required. The HCO3/0.03PCO2 must be set to 20. Repiration so pH changes are detected by the central and peripheral chemo receptors (more central) and altered signals are sent to the medulla to alter respiratory rate Show link between alveolar resp rate and pACO2 (CO2 can also be carried by