Acid-Base Balance Paper

An article by Siggard-Anderson (2005) explains that “acid-base balance refers to the balance between input (intake and production) and output (elimination) of hydrogen ion” (p.4). The maintenance of acid-base balance during exercise is vital to performance. This is because exercise decreases muscle and blood pH. When exercising a build-up of lactic acid can occur in the muscles which when coupled with an increase in carbon dioxide will lower your body’s pH balance. In order for the human body to function normally the body’s fluids must stay as close to a neutralised pH as possible. If the athletes acid-base balanced is too strongly alkaline or acidic, it can lead to cells not utilizing oxygen efficiently. The two imperative organs used to maintain acid-base balance are the kidney and lungs. The excretion of acids and re-absorption on bicarbonate is controlled and carried out by the kidneys. This bicarbonate plays as a buffer towards the acids, so it is important that the kidneys absorb this. The respiratory acid called carbon dioxide is eliminated by the lungs. According to Essays UK (2013) the lungs are able to correct the balance quicker compared to the kidneys, which can take a few

There are three main buffering systems within the body. The first buffering system is called the phosphate buffer system which contains dihydrogen phosphate ions and hydrogen phosphate ions. When the level of pH decreases hydrogen phosphate ions take in hydrogen ions which will equal out the balance between hydrogen and hydroxide ions, forcing the pH level to increase and return to neutral. However, when the pH level increases, dihydrogen phosphate ions start to let off hydrogen ions to decrease pH level back to neutral. In summary “the phosphate buffer system can accept or donate hydrogen ions depending on the solution it is in” (Essays, UK. 2013.