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Goal: Discuss the basic principles of acid-base physiology and the mechanisms that prevent fluctuation in body pH.

Objectives:

Identify and explain the role of three buffer systems that maintain body pH.
Describe a major difference between the bicarbonate reabsorption and generation processes.
Discuss the mechanism by which renal processes adapt to changes in daily metabolic acid production.

Acknowledgement: This article was revised and updated from the original article authored by Patricia Preisig, PhD, RN, which appeared in ANNA Journal, 21(5), 251-258, 1992. The author and Nephrology Nursing Journal would like to thank Dr. Preisig for her excellent work on the original article.

Carolyn Yucha PhD, RN

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