Describe the different mechanism of pH maintenance at the cellular and blood level.

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Describe the different mechanism of pH maintenance atthe cellular and blood level.

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mechanism of pH maintenance at the cellular level Intracellular pH is typically lower than extracellular pH due to lower concentrations of HCO3 A rise of extracellular eg serum partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO2 above 45 mmHg leads to formation of carbonic acid which causes a decrease of pHi as it dissociates H2O CO2 H2CO3 H HCO3 Since biological cells contain fluid that can act as a buffer pHi can be maintained fairly well within a certain rangeCells adjust their pHi accordingly upon an increase in acidity or basicity usually with the help of CO2 or HCO3 sensors present in the membrane of the cell3 These sensors can permit H to pass through the cell membrane accordingly allowing for pHi to be interrelated with extracellular pH in this respect Major intracellular buffer systems include those involving proteins or phosphates Since the proteins have acidic and basic regions they can serve as both proton donors or acceptors in order to maintain a relatively stable intracellular pH In the case of a phosphate buffer substantial quantities of weak acid and conjugate weak base H2PO4 and HPO42 can accept or donate protons accordingly in order to conserve intracellular pH OH H2PO4 H2O HPO42 H HPO42 H2PO4 In organelles Approximate pHs of various organelles within a cell The pH within a particular organelle is tailored for its specific function For example lysosomes have a relatively low pH of 45Additionally fluorescence microscopy techniques have indicated that phagocytes also have a relatively low internal pHSince these are both degradative organelles that engulf and break down other substances they require high internal acidity in order to successfully perform their intended function In contrast to the relatively low pH inside lysosomes and phagocytes the mitochondrial matrix has an internal pH of around 80 which is approximately 09 pH units higher than that of inside intermembrane space Since oxidative phosphorylation must occur inside the mitochondria this pH discrepancy is necessary to create a gradient across the membrane This membrane potential is ultimately what allows for the mitochondria to generate large quantities of ATP MECHANISM OF pH CONTROL OF BLOOD NORMAL pH There is a normal pH value in each body compartment ie extracellular fluid plasma intracellular fluid etc See Answer

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