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Acid–base homeostasis
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<p>Acid–base homeostasis is the <a href="/facts/Homeostasis/rloTGAHa">homeostatic</a> regulation of the <a href="/facts/PH/RnSv8D7y">pH</a> of the <a href="/facts/Body_fluid/RkAXIBVN">body's</a> <a href="/facts/Extracellular_fluid/hzm4qatP">extracellular fluid</a> (ECF). The proper balance between the <a href="/facts/Acid/FySU18n1">acids</a> and <a href="/facts/Base_(chemistry)/M9wA7qeM">bases</a> (i.e. the pH) in the ECF is crucial for the normal <a href="/facts/Physiology/fh25y2pQ">physiology</a> of the body—and for <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cellular</a> <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a>. The pH of the <a href="/facts/Intracellular_fluid/CYV4l60r">intracellular fluid</a> and the extracellular fluid need to be maintained at a constant level. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Tertiary_structure/VaN6MEYh">three dimensional structures</a> of many extracellular proteins, such as the <a href="/facts/Plasma_proteins/C87ptzI0">plasma proteins</a> and <a href="/facts/Membrane_protein/FboTeM8Q">membrane proteins</a> of the body's <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a>, are very sensitive to the extracellular pH. Stringent mechanisms therefore exist to maintain the pH within very narrow limits. Outside the acceptable range of pH, <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a> are <a href="/facts/Denaturation_(biochemistry)/Eh1hc3Bg">denatured</a> (i.e. their 3D structure is disrupted), causing <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a> and <a href="/facts/Ion_channels/A46LARFH">ion channels</a> (among others) to malfunction. </p><p>An <a href="/facts/Acid%25E2%2580%2593base_imbalance/sGmJmvBq">acid–base imbalance</a> is known as acidemia when the pH is acidic, or alkalemia when the pH is alkaline. </p>