Intracellular pH

All cells contain an intracellular fluid whose pH value is known as the intracellular pH (pHi). The pHi plays a critical role in the function of the cell, and close regulation is required for cells to survive. There are numerous mechanisms that can cause pHi to change, including metabolic acid production, leakage of acid across plasma and organelle membranes and membrane transport processes. The mechanisms that regulate pHi are usually considered to be plasma membrane transporters of which two main types exist — those independent of HCO₃ and those requiring HCO₃. The normal extracellular pH is 7.4±0.1.