Kidneys

[victorias]

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When the pH is low, it would mean that there is a higher [H+] than normal. So kidneys would excrete greater amounts of H+. Do the kidneys also reabsorb greater amounts of HCO3-? Are these processes simultaneous or H+ excretion is the most direct way of dealing with acidic condition and HCO3- reabsorption is only secondary? and would be be vice versa for alkaline conditions (HCO3- excretion is the most direct way of dealing with this while H+ reabsorption is a secondary process?)

 

[aldol16]

I don't know how you classify primary or secondary, but yeah, the kidneys reabsorb bicarb when the pH is too low in order to raise the pH. I don't think you should think in terms of primary or secondary factors - the body is very good integrating multiple processes all at once.