The Role of Ammonia Production and Excretion in Regulation of Acid-Base Balance

THE reaction of the extracellular fluid of normal man is stabilized within narrow limits of pH 7.35 and 7.45. The carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system has the key role in stabilizing hydrogen ion concentration within these limits. The importance of this buffer system does not derive from the fact that it is an especially effective one at the pH of body fluids. Indeed it is not, for its dissociation constant is too far removed from the hydrogen ion concentration of these fluids for optimum stabilization of reaction. Rather, the importance of this buffer system is that its two components are regulated . . .