ATI Pathophysiology Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

What role do kidneys play in blood pH balance?

They produce hormones regulating blood flow

They filter out pathogens from the blood

They excrete or retain hydrogen ions

The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining the body's acid-base balance, which directly impacts blood pH levels. They achieve this primarily through the excretion or retention of hydrogen ions, which are key components in regulating acidity.

When the body experiences a condition of acidosis (where pH levels drop and the environment becomes more acidic), the kidneys can increase the excretion of hydrogen ions into the urine while retaining bicarbonate ions in the blood, thus helping to raise the pH back toward a neutral level. Conversely, during alkalosis (where pH levels rise, making the environment more alkaline), the kidneys can reabsorb more hydrogen ions and excrete bicarbonate to help lower the pH.

This ability to adjust the excretion and retention of hydrogen ions plays a vital role in compensating for metabolic and respiratory changes that affect blood pH, making the kidneys essential in maintaining homeostasis in the body.

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They synthesize glucose for energy

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