Final answer:
The fastest mechanism for maintaining pH homeostasis in the human body is the respiratory system, adjusting the pH within minutes by altering CO2 exhalation rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fastest compensatory mechanism for maintaining pH homeostasis in the human body is b. the respiratory system. Chemical buffers, such as bicarbonate, act within seconds to resist pH changes, while respiratory compensation, through rapid changes in the rate of exhalation of CO₂, adjusts blood pH almost as quickly, generally within minutes.
In contrast, the renal system is more thorough but requires hours to days to effect a change in blood pH by altering the excretion of hydrogen ions and the conservation of bicarbonate. The endocrine system is not directly involved in the rapid compensation of blood pH.
The fastest compensatory mechanism for maintaining pH homeostasis in the human body is the respiratory system. The respiratory system can adjust blood pH within minutes by exhaling carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the body. Chemical buffering systems in the blood can also make adjustments to pH within seconds, but the respiratory system provides a quicker response.