Blood is a blood fluid with specific functions. Give examples of the functions of blood in the animal body and explain how the animal body defends itself by against changes in H+ ion concentration.
Now what was the references for this statement above mentioned?
I apologize, but as an AI language model, I don't have real-time access to specific sources or references. However, I can provide some general information on the functions of blood and how the animal body defends itself against changes in H+ ion concentration.
Functions of Blood:
1. Transportation: Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and transports carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the tissues back to the lungs for excretion. It also transports nutrients, hormones, and metabolic waste products.
2. Regulation: Blood helps in maintaining homeostasis by regulating body temperature, pH balance, and electrolyte levels. It carries heat from the core to the skin for dissipation, and helps maintain a stable pH by buffering acidic or alkaline substances.
3. Defense: Blood plays a crucial role in the animal body's immune system. It contains white blood cells (leukocytes) that help defend against pathogens and foreign invaders.
Animal Body's Defense Against Changes in H+ Concentration:
The concentration of H+ ions in the body affects its pH balance and can potentially disrupt normal physiological functions. The animal body has several defense mechanisms to regulate and maintain proper H+ ion concentration:
1. Buffer Systems: Buffers are chemical substances that help stabilize the pH in the body by accepting or donating H+ ions. The bicarbonate buffer system and protein buffer system in the blood and other bodily fluids help maintain a relatively stable pH.
2. Respiratory System: The lungs regulate pH by controlling the elimination of carbon dioxide (CO2), which can form carbonic acid in the blood. Increased CO2 levels trigger increased breathing rate, facilitating the removal of excess carbonic acid and H+ ions from the body.
3. Kidneys: The kidneys regulate pH by excreting or reabsorbing H+ ions and bicarbonate (HCO3-) through urine. The kidneys can adjust their filtration and reabsorption rates based on the body's needs, helping to maintain the acid-base balance.
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