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Encyclopedia entry: acid–base homeostasis
- Article from:
- The Oxford Companion to the Body
- Author:
Copyright© The Oxford Companion to the Body 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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acid–base homeostasis
All living things depend on water. Life consists of a highly complex series of chemical reactions occurring in aqueous media. Among the most important factors in the composition of these fluids are the concentrations of
hydrogen
ions and
hydroxide
ions, which determine the acidity or alkalinity of the fluid. The maintenance of suitable concentrations of these ions is called acid–base homeostasis.
The cells of the most primitive marine organisms are bathed directly by the sea. The environment of such cells is very variable, being at the mercy of the tides and winds. As evolution proceeded, organisms walled off some of this watery environment and took it as ...