What is pH, and why is maintaining the correct pH important in the human body?
Answer (1)
pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic (alkaline) a substance is. It stands for “potential of hydrogen” and is based on the number of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.A pH less than 7 is acidic (more H⁺ ions),A pH of 7 is neutral (like pure water),A pH greater than 7 is basic or alkaline (more hydroxide ions, OH⁻).In the human body, maintaining the correct pH is very important for survival and for all body systems to function properly. For example, blood plasma normally has a pH of around 7.3 to 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. If the pH becomes too acidic or too basic, important processes like cell metabolism, enzyme activity, and oxygen transport can be disrupted.Importance of Balanced pH Enzyme activity - Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. Each enzyme works best at a specific pH. If the pH changes, the enzyme might not work or could become inactive.Oxygen transport - Hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells, works best at the normal blood pH. Changes in pH affect how much oxygen it can carry.Muscle function - During exercise, muscles produce lactic acid, which lowers pH. The body must buffer (neutralize) this acid to avoid cramping and fatigue.Homeostasis - The body uses systems like the lungs (by adjusting breathing) and kidneys (by excreting hydrogen ions) to regulate pH. This balance is called acid-base homeostasis.pH plays a vital role in keeping the body stable and functional. Even a slight change can cause serious problems, which is why understanding pH is important in anatomy and physiology.
