How does the nervous system correct a drop in blood pH (increased acidity)?
Answer
By increasing the rate and depth of breathing to expel carbon dioxide
When blood pH drops, chemoreceptors signal the brainstem to increase breathing rate (hyperventilation), which expels $ ext{CO}_2$, which acts as an acid when dissolved in blood, thereby raising pH back toward neutrality.
Related Questions
What is the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment called?What is the primary role of the sympathetic division of the ANS?Which component in a homeostatic feedback loop receives information from receptors?What type of feedback mechanism operates most commonly in homeostatic controls?What is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system capable of rapid signal transmission?What structural part of a neuron conducts the signal away to other cells?What term describes sensory receptors located internally that monitor blood chemistry and pressure?What is the primary role of the parasympathetic division during resting conditions?When body temperature rises above the set point, what action do blood vessels near the skin take?Which structure acts as the critical intersection point, translating neural input into hormonal output?How does the nervous system correct a drop in blood pH (increased acidity)?What is generally observed in older individuals regarding homeostatic response speed?