Physiological buffer systems

Physiological buffer systems help maintain a stable pH in the body’s fluids, preventing harmful changes in acidity or alkalinity. They work by using chemical substances that can absorb excess acids or bases, quickly neutralizing them. For example, the bicarbonate buffer system in blood uses bicarbonate ions to counteract added acids, maintaining a balanced pH essential for normal cellular function. These systems act rapidly and complement longer-term mechanisms like the lungs and kidneys, which adjust carbon dioxide levels and excrete excess acids or bases to sustain overall pH stability vital for health.