What process helps maintain the pH balance of blood?

The correct answer is that gas exchange plays a crucial role in maintaining the pH balance of blood. This process involves the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs and tissues. When carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product from metabolism, it can influence blood pH. The body regulates the levels of carbon dioxide, which interacts with water to form carbonic acid, thereby affecting acidity in the blood. Increased levels of carbon dioxide can lower pH, while removal through gas exchange can help elevate pH and restore balance.

While nutrient distribution, muscle coordination, and digestive regulation are essential physiological processes, they do not directly impact blood pH in the same way. Nutrient distribution supports energy and metabolic needs, muscle coordination aids in movements and functions, and digestive regulation manages processes related to food intake and breakdown. However, the carbon dioxide removal mechanism through gas exchange is specifically critical for maintaining the acid-base balance in the blood, highlighting its importance in respiratory and metabolic homeostasis.