Final answer:
The kidneys are more effective in pH regulation compared to the lungs because they can remove excess H+ ions, while the lungs can only manage CO2 levels that indirectly affect H+ concentration. Kidneys achieve this by excreting H+ directly into the urine, offering a detailed regulation of acid-base balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kidney is more effective in pH regulation than the lung because it can remove excess hydrogen ions (H+), which the lung cannot do. The lung primarily manages CO2 levels which indirectly affects H+ concentration, but cannot excrete H+ ions directly.
The regulation of the body's pH is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and involves a sophisticated partnership between the kidneys and lungs. While the lungs can quickly adjust the levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and thus bicarbonate (HCO3¯), affecting pH indirectly, they cannot alter the direct excretion of H+ ions. Instead, the kidneys adjust the pH more precisely by reabsorbing bicarbonate and secreting H+ directly into the urine. This process of directly modulating H+ ions allows the kidneys to correct both acidosis and alkalosis by either removing or conserving H+ ions and bicarbonate as needed. Furthermore, the renal system can produce ammonia (NH3) which binds H+ and facilitates its excretion as ammonium (NH4+).
The role of the kidneys in maintaining acid-base balance is essential for ensuring that proteins retain their three-dimensional structure, which is necessary for their function. Overall, the kidneys provide a slower but more nuanced and comprehensive approach to pH regulation compared to the rapid but limited capacity of the lungs.