Which organ primarily regulates CO2 to help maintain blood pH?

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Multiple Choice

Which organ primarily regulates CO2 to help maintain blood pH?

The lungs are the primary regulator of CO2 to help maintain blood pH. CO2 in the blood forms carbonic acid, which lowers pH as it increases. The respiratory system can quickly adjust CO2 levels by changing breathing rate and depth: increasing ventilation blows off more CO2, raising pH; decreasing ventilation lets CO2 accumulate, lowering pH. This rapid, direct control of CO2 makes the lungs the main acute mechanism for keeping blood pH within normal range. The kidneys also regulate pH by handling bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, but their effects are slower and focused on buffering, not on CO2 elimination. The liver and heart do not primarily regulate CO2 to affect blood pH.

The lungs are the primary regulator of CO2 to help maintain blood pH. CO2 in the blood forms carbonic acid, which lowers pH as it increases. The respiratory system can quickly adjust CO2 levels by changing breathing rate and depth: increasing ventilation blows off more CO2, raising pH; decreasing ventilation lets CO2 accumulate, lowering pH. This rapid, direct control of CO2 makes the lungs the main acute mechanism for keeping blood pH within normal range. The kidneys also regulate pH by handling bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, but their effects are slower and focused on buffering, not on CO2 elimination. The liver and heart do not primarily regulate CO2 to affect blood pH.

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