Buffering systems of metabolic acidosis

Buffering of metabolic acidosis refers to the physiological process by which the body mitigates increases in hydrogen ion concentration and decreases in pH (acidosis) through several overlapping chemical buffering systems. The major systems include the **bicarbonate buffer system** (the most important in extracellular fluid), **phosphate buffer system** (significant in urine and intracellular fluid), and **protein buffer system** (including hemoglobin within red blood cells)[2][3][5][1]. These systems function to stabilize blood pH by absorbing excess hydrogen ions or releasing them as needed to maintain acid–base homeostasis. When primary buffering is inadequate or overwhelmed by acid load, compensatory mechanisms involving the respiratory (hyperventilation to remove carbon dioxide) and renal systems (excreting hydrogen ions and regenerating bicarbonate) are activated[3][5]. This process is not mediated by a single molecular target but results from the integrated action of multiple molecular entities and physiological organs. Disruption or exhaustion of these buffering mechanisms is central to the pathophysiology of metabolic acidosis, a complication of many disorders, but "buffering of metabolic acidosis" itself is not a molecular entity that can be directly targeted by drugs[1][6][7][5].

Other names

Acid-base buffering systemsBody buffer systemsBicarbonate bufferPhosphate bufferProtein buffer