Normal Blood pH and Its Regulatory Mechanisms Explained

Normal Blood pH and Its Regulatory Mechanisms Explained

What is the normal pH of the blood? Explain various mechanisms by which it is regulated.
Answer:

Normal pH of the blood:

• The normal pH of the blood is in the range of 7.35-7.45

Regulation of blood pH:

• The blood pH is regulated by

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1. Blood buffers

• The buffer may be defined as a solution of a weak acid & its salt with a strong base
• It resists the change in pH by the addition of acid or alkali
• Blood contains three buffer systems

1. Bicarbonate buffer
   • Sodium bicarbonate & carbonic acid are bicarbonate buffer
   • The ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid is 20:1
2. Phosphate buffer
   • Sodium dihydrogen phosphate & disodium hydrogen phosphate are important phosphate buffer
   • It is an important intracellular buffer
3. The ratio of base to acid is 4
   • Protein buffering
   • It consists of plasma proteins & hemoglobin
   • Plasma proteins account for 2% of the total buffering capacity
   • Hemoglobin buffers fixed acids

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2. Respiratory mechanism

• It regulates the concentration of carbonic acid in the blood
• Large volumes of carbon dioxide are produced by the cellular activity
• This is eliminated from the body in the expired air
• This carbon dioxide is formed from carbonic acid
• H+ ions are eliminated as water.