Lungs and acid-base balance Lung plays a important role in maintenance of acid base balance in the body by regulating the carbon dioxide content in blood Carbon dioxide is produced during various metabolic reactions in the tissues of the body . When it enters the blood carbon dioxide combines with water and form carbonic acid .since carbonic acid is unstable it splits into hydrogen and bicarbonates Entire process is reversed In lungs when carbon dioxide is removed from blood into the alveoli of lungs As carbon dioxide is a volatile gas it is practically blown out by ventilation When metabolic activities are accelerated more amount of carbon dioxide is produced in the tissue .concentration of hydrogen ion is also increased this leads to reduction in pH . increased hydrogen ion concentration causes increased pulmonary ventilation by acting through various mechanism like chemoreceptors in aortic and carotid bodies and in medulla of the brain .due to hyperventilation excess carbon dioxide is removed from body fluids and pH is brought back to normal
