In chronic respiratory acidosis, what renal adaptation helps mitigate the acid load over days?
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Correct answer: Increased HCO₃⁻ generation and reabsorption
In chronic respiratory acidosis (elevated CO₂), kidneys increase generation and reabsorption of bicarbonate and excrete more H⁺ (e.g., via ammonium), helping restore pH toward normal.
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More Acid-base homeostasis questions
- Which intracellular buffer system contributes significantly to pH regulation inside cells?
- Which of the following best describes metabolic acidosis on arterial blood gas analysis?
- Why are small changes in plasma H⁺ concentration physiologically significant even though absolute H⁺ concentration is tiny (≈ 40 nmol/L)?
- Which of the following represents a primary disturbance in respiratory acidosis?
- Which renal tubular cell type is primarily responsible for H⁺ secretion during chronic acid–base regulation?
- What is the normal physiological arterial blood pH range maintained by acid–base homeostasis in humans?