Question

During acidosis, when the pH of the extracellular fluid drops below 7.35, the kidneys compensate by

a. Excreting more hydrogens ions and excreting less bicarbonate ions

b. Excreting both more hydrogen ions and more bicarbonate ions

Answer 1

Answer

Option A) Excreting more hydrogens ions and excreting less bicarbonate ions

• Acidosis is the condition when blood in body becomes more acidic. The pH falls below 7.35.
• pH falls when there are more hydrogen ions in the blood.
• In order to compensate the condition, kidneys secrete hydrogen ions into the filtrate and removes it via urine.
• Kidneys also retain bicarbonate ions as they are weak base. Increasing bicarbonate in blood will facilitate maintanace of pH to normal.