Breathing and Exchange of Gases

Listed below are four respiratory capacities (i – iv) and four jumbled respiratory volumes of a normal human adult. array|l|l|l| & Respiratory capacities & Respiratory volumes \ (i) & Residual volume & 2500 mL \ (ii) & Vital capacity & 3500 mL \ (iii) & Inspiratory reserve volume & 1200 mL \ (iv) & Inspiratory capacity & 4500 mL \ array Which one of the following is the correct matching of two capacities and volumes?

1. (ii) 2500 mL, (iii) 4500 mL
2. (iii) 1200 mL, (iv) 2500 mL
3. (iv) 3500 mL, (i) 1200 mL
4. (i) 4500 mL, (ii) 3500 mL

What is true about RBCs in humans?

1. They carry about 20-25 percent of CO2.
2. They transport 99.5 percent of O2.
3. They transport about 80 percent oxygen only and the rest 20 percent of it is transported in dissolved state in blood plasma.
4. They do not carry CO2 at all.

Which two of the following changes (i – iv) usually tend to occur in the plain dwellers when they move to high altitudes (3,500 m or more)? (i) Increase in red blood cell size (ii) Increase in red blood cell production (iii) Increased breathing rate (iv) Increase in thrombocyte count Changes occurring are

1. (ii) and (iii)
2. (iii) and (iv)
3. (i) and (iv)
4. (i) and (ii)

What is vital capacity of our lungs?

1. Inspiratory reserve volume plus expiratory reserve volume
2. Total lung capacity minus residual volume
3. Inspiratory reserve volume plus tidal volume
4. Total lung capacity minus expiratory reserve volume

The haemoglobin of a human foetus

1. has only 2 protein subunits instead of 4
2. has a higher affinity for oxygen than that of an adult
3. has a lower affinity for oxygen than that of the adult
4. its affinity for oxygen is the same as that of an adult.

The majority of carbon dioxide produced by our body cells is transported to the lungs as

1. attached to haemoglobin
2. dissolved in the blood
3. bicarbonates
4. carbonates.

Which one of the following statements is incorrect?

1. The principle of countercurrent flow facilitates efficient respiration in gills of fishes.
2. The residual air in lungs slightly decreases the efficiency of respiration in mammals.
3. The presence of non-respiratory air sacs increases the efficiency of respiration in birds.
4. In insects, circulating body fluids serve to distribute oxygen to tissues.

People living at sea level have around 5 million RBC per cubic millimetre of their blood whereas those living at an altitude of 5400 metres have around 8 million. This is because at high altitude

1. people eat more nutritive food, therefore more RBCs are formed
2. people get pollution-free air to breathe and more oxygen is available
3. atmospheric O2 level is less and hence more RBCs are needed to absorb the required amount of O2 to survive
4. there is more UV radiation which enhances RBC production.

Blood analysis of a patient reveals an unusually high quantity of carboxyhaemoglobin content. Which of the following conclusions is most likely to be correct? The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing unusually high content of

1. carbon disulphide
2. chloroform
3. carbon dioxide
4. carbon monoxide.

When CO2 concentration in blood increases breathing becomes

1. shallower and slow
2. there is no effect on breathing
3. slow and deep
4. faster and deeper