Buffering in physiology refers to:

Boost your AQA A-Level PE score with our Energy Systems quiz. Test your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Enhance your exam readiness!

Multiple Choice

Buffering in physiology refers to:

Explanation:
Buffering in physiology refers to how the body neutralizes hydrogen ions to maintain pH homeostasis during exercise. When you work hard, muscles generate more H+ from ATP breakdown and lactic acid, and if pH falls too much, enzyme activity slows and fatigue accelerates. Buffers such as bicarbonate in plasma, phosphate buffers inside muscle cells, and various proteins accept these H+ ions, forming weaker acids. For example, bicarbonate binds H+ to form carbonic acid, which quickly becomes CO2 and water that can be breathed out. This buffering keeps pH within a usable range and allows glycolysis and other metabolic processes to continue during strenuous activity. This concept is different from the others: EPOC describes the oxygen debt and elevated oxygen use after exercise ends; calorimetry measures energy expenditure or heat production; and lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactate begins to accumulate faster than it can be cleared.

Buffering in physiology refers to how the body neutralizes hydrogen ions to maintain pH homeostasis during exercise. When you work hard, muscles generate more H+ from ATP breakdown and lactic acid, and if pH falls too much, enzyme activity slows and fatigue accelerates. Buffers such as bicarbonate in plasma, phosphate buffers inside muscle cells, and various proteins accept these H+ ions, forming weaker acids. For example, bicarbonate binds H+ to form carbonic acid, which quickly becomes CO2 and water that can be breathed out. This buffering keeps pH within a usable range and allows glycolysis and other metabolic processes to continue during strenuous activity. This concept is different from the others: EPOC describes the oxygen debt and elevated oxygen use after exercise ends; calorimetry measures energy expenditure or heat production; and lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactate begins to accumulate faster than it can be cleared.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy