Blood is normally slightly basic, with a normal pH range of 7.35 to 7.45.
The pH scale ranges from 0 (strongly acidic) to 14 (strongly basic or alkaline), with 7.0 being neutral.
Maintaining this slightly basic pH is essential for the proper functioning of the body.
The body employs various mechanisms to regulate blood pH, including the lungs, kidneys, and buffering systems.
Key factors in blood pH balance:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): When CO2 dissolves in blood, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which contributes to acidity.
- Bicarbonate (HCO3-): This is a base that helps neutralize acids in the blood.
Examples of how blood pH affects the body:
- Enzyme activity: Many enzymes require a specific pH to function optimally.
- Oxygen transport: Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, is affected by blood pH.
- Cellular function: Many cellular processes are sensitive to pH changes.
Conditions that can disrupt blood pH:
- Metabolic acidosis: Occurs when there is an excess of acid in the body, often due to kidney failure or diabetes.
- Respiratory acidosis: Develops when the lungs cannot remove enough CO2 from the body, leading to increased acidity.
Blood pH is a vital indicator of overall health, and deviations from the normal range can signal serious medical conditions.
