A patient with chronic kidney disease presents with metabolic acidosis. Which compensatory mechanism is the body most likely to employ to normalize pH?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a patient with chronic kidney disease presenting with metabolic acidosis, the compensatory mechanism the body is most likely to employ to normalize pH is increased bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidneys. The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining acid-base balance by regulating bicarbonate levels in the blood. In metabolic acidosis, there is an excess of non-volatile acids in the body, leading to a decrease in blood pH. To compensate for this acidosis, the kidneys increase the reabsorption of filtered bicarbonate ions from the renal tubules back into the blood. This process helps to raise the bicarbonate levels in the blood, which in turn helps to neutralize excess hydrogen ions and restore the blood pH towards normal levels. Hyperventilation (A) is a compensatory mechanism for respiratory acidosis, not metabolic acidosis. Increased renal excretion of hydrogen ions (C) and decreased renal excretion of bicarbonate ions