Renal Function

In contrast to the respiratory system, the kidneys, through their ability of excreting excess alkali or acid, can fully compensate without any changes in the bicarbonate pool.

The methods by which the kidney can compensate include:

1. Reclaims virtually all the filtered HCO3-
2. Excretion of free H+
3. Excretion of titratable acid (NaH2PO4)
4. Excretion of ammonium salt