Bio-17: Breathing and Exchange of Gases30 Questions
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1. What is the average breathing rate of a healthy adult human at rest?
A. 12 to 16 times/minute
B. 20 to 25 times/minute
C. 72 times/minute
D. 5 to 8 times/minute
Answer: A. 12 to 16 times/minute
Explanation: A healthy human breathes on average 12–16 times per minute under resting conditions.
2. Tidal Volume (TV) in a healthy human is approximately:
A. 500 mL
B. 1000 mL
C. 2500 mL
D. 1200 mL
Answer: A. 500 mL
Explanation: Tidal volume is the volume of air inspired or expired during a normal respiration, which is roughly 500 mL per breath.
3. The maximum volume of air a person can breathe in after a forced expiration is called:
A. Vital Capacity (VC)
B. Tidal Volume (TV)
C. Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
D. Residual Volume (RV)
Answer: A. Vital Capacity (VC)
Explanation: Vital capacity is the maximum volume of air a person can expire after a forceful inspiration or inspire after a forceful expiration (VC = ERV + TV + IRV).
4. The volume of air that remains in the lungs even after a forcible expiration is termed as:
A. Residual Volume (RV)
B. Tidal Volume (TV)
C. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)
D. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
Answer: A. Residual Volume (RV)
Explanation: Residual volume (RV) averages 1100 mL to 1200 mL and remains in the lungs even after maximum forcible expiration.
5. Which enzyme present in high concentration in red blood cells facilitates the transport of CO2?
A. Carbonic anhydrase
B. Thrombokinase
C. Pepsin
D. Carboxypeptidase
Answer: A. Carbonic anhydrase
Explanation: RBCs contain a high concentration of carbonic anhydrase which rapidly converts CO2 and H2O into carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions.
6. What percentage of O2 is transported by RBCs in the blood?
A. 97%
B. 3%
C. 70%
D. 20-25%
Answer: A. 97%
Explanation: About 97% of oxygen is transported by hemoglobin in RBCs as oxyhemoglobin, while the remaining 3% is dissolved in plasma.
7. Carbon dioxide is primarily transported in human blood in the form of:
A. Bicarbonate ions
B. Carbamino-haemoglobin
C. Dissolved gas in plasma
D. Carbon monoxide
Answer: A. Bicarbonate ions
Explanation: Nearly 70% of carbon dioxide is transported as bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) in plasma.
8. The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in alveoli is:
A. 104 mm Hg
B. 40 mm Hg
C. 95 mm Hg
D. 159 mm Hg
Answer: A. 104 mm Hg
Explanation: The partial pressure of oxygen in alveolar air is approximately 104 mm Hg, enabling diffusion into deoxygenated capillary blood (pO2 = 40 mm Hg).
9. The Oxygen-Hemoglobin dissociation curve shifts to the right under which of the following conditions?
A. High pCO2, high H+ concentration, and high temperature
B. Low pCO2, low H+ concentration, and low temperature
C. High pO2 and low pCO2
D. Low temperature and low pCO2
Answer: A. High pCO2, high H+ concentration, and high temperature
Explanation: High pCO2, high H+ (low pH), and higher temperature decrease hemoglobin affinity for O2, shifting the dissociation curve to the right (Bohr effect).
10. Pneumotaxic centre which can moderate the functions of the respiratory rhythm centre is located in:
A. Pons region of brain
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Cerebellum
D. Hypothalamus
Answer: A. Pons region of brain
Explanation: The pneumotaxic centre is present in the pons region of the brainstem and regulates the duration of inspiration.
11. Chronic respiratory disorder caused mainly by cigarette smoking, characterized by damage to alveolar walls, is:
A. Emphysema
B. Asthma
C. Occupational Respiratory Disorder
D. Bronchitis
Answer: A. Emphysema
Explanation: Emphysema is a chronic condition where alveolar walls are damaged, reducing respiratory surface area; major cause is cigarette smoking.
12. Respiratory rhythm center that primarily regulates basic respiratory rhythm is situated in:
A. Medulla region of brain
B. Pons region
C. Midbrain
D. Thalamus
Answer: A. Medulla region of brain
Explanation: A specialized center called respiratory rhythm center present in the medulla region is primarily responsible for respiratory regulation.
13. The shape of the oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve is:
A. Sigmoid
B. Parabolic
C. Linear
D. Hyperbolic
Answer: A. Sigmoid
Explanation: A sigmoid (S-shaped) curve is obtained when percentage saturation of hemoglobin with O2 is plotted against the pO2.
14. What amount of O2 is delivered to tissues by every 100 mL of oxygenated blood under normal physiological conditions?
A. 5 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
Answer: A. 5 mL
Explanation: Every 100 mL of oxygenated blood can deliver around 5 mL of O2 to the tissues under normal conditions.
15. Every 100 mL of deoxygenated blood delivers approximately how much CO2 to the alveoli?
A. 4 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 10 mL
Answer: A. 4 mL
Explanation: Every 100 mL of deoxygenated blood delivers approximately 4 mL of CO2 to the alveolar air.
16. The cartilaginous ring structures that support the trachea and prevent it from collapsing are:
A. Incomplete C-shaped C-cartilages
B. Complete circular rings
C. Bony rings
D. Fibrous tissue rings
Answer: A. Incomplete C-shaped C-cartilages
Explanation: Trachea and primary bronchi are supported by incomplete cartilaginous rings that keep the airway open during pressure changes.
17. Trachea divides into right and left primary bronchi at the level of which thoracic vertebra?
A. 5th thoracic vertebra
B. 3rd thoracic vertebra
C. 7th thoracic vertebra
D. 12th thoracic vertebra
Answer: A. 5th thoracic vertebra
Explanation: Trachea is a straight tube extending up to the mid-thoracic cavity, which divides at the level of the 5th thoracic vertebra into right and left primary bronchi.
18. The double-layered membrane covering the human lungs is called:
A. Pleura
B. Pericardium
C. Peritoneum
D. Glisson's capsule
Answer: A. Pleura
Explanation: Lungs are enclosed in a double-layered pleural membrane (outer parietal pleura and inner visceral pleura) with pleural fluid between them.
19. During inspiration, contraction of diaphragm leads to an increase in thoracic volume in the:
A. Antero-posterior axis
B. Dorso-ventral axis
C. Lateral axis
D. Vertical axis only
Answer: A. Antero-posterior axis
Explanation: Contraction of the dome-shaped diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic chamber in the antero-posterior axis.
20. Contraction of external intercostal muscles lifts the ribs and sternum causing an increase in thoracic volume in the:
A. Dorso-ventral axis
B. Antero-posterior axis
C. Longitudinal axis
D. Transverse axis
Answer: A. Dorso-ventral axis
Explanation: Contraction of external intercostal muscles lifts up the ribs and sternum, increasing thoracic volume in the dorso-ventral axis.
21. Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) is equal to:
A. ERV + RV
B. TV + IRV
C. VC + RV
D. ERV + TV
Answer: A. ERV + RV
Explanation: Functional Residual Capacity is the volume of air that will remain in lungs after a normal expiration (FRC = ERV + RV).
22. What is the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in deoxygenated blood?
A. 45 mm Hg
B. 40 mm Hg
C. 104 mm Hg
D. 0.3 mm Hg
Answer: A. 45 mm Hg
Explanation: In deoxygenated blood and tissues, pCO2 is 45 mm Hg, whereas in oxygenated blood and alveolar air, it is 40 mm Hg.
23. Which respiratory organ is used by earthworms for gaseous exchange?
A. Moist cuticle (skin)
B. Tracheal tubes
C. Gills
D. Book lungs
Answer: A. Moist cuticle (skin)
Explanation: Earthworms use their moist skin/cuticle for cutaneous respiration.
24. Tracheal tubes for gas exchange are characteristic respiratory organs of:
A. Insects
B. Fishes
C. Aquatic molluscs
D. Flatworms
Answer: A. Insects
Explanation: Insects have a network of tracheal tubes to transport atmospheric air within the body.
25. The diffusion membrane through which gaseous exchange occurs in alveoli consists of how many layers?
A. 3 layers
B. 2 layers
C. 4 layers
D. 1 layer
Answer: A. 3 layers
Explanation: The diffusion membrane consists of 3 layers: squamous epithelium of alveoli, endothelium of alveolar capillaries, and intervening basement substance.
26. Chemosensitive area located adjacent to the rhythm center is highly sensitive to:
A. CO2 and H+ ions
B. O2 concentration only
C. N2 gas
D. Glucose levels
Answer: A. CO2 and H+ ions
Explanation: The chemosensitive area is extremely sensitive to increases in CO2 and hydrogen ion concentrations, sending signals to modify breathing rate.
27. Which condition causes difficulty in breathing along with wheezing due to inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles?
A. Asthma
B. Emphysema
C. Silicosis
D. Asbestosis
Answer: A. Asthma
Explanation: Asthma is characterized by wheezing sound and difficulty in breathing due to inflammation and narrowing of bronchi and bronchioles.
28. Occupational respiratory disorders like silicosis and asbestosis lead to severe lung damage mainly via:
A. Fibrosis (proliferation of fibrous tissues)
B. Breakdown of alveolar walls
C. Bacterial infection
D. Excess mucus accumulation
Answer: A. Fibrosis (proliferation of fibrous tissues)
Explanation: In industries producing dust, prolonged exposure leads to inflammation resulting in fibrosis (proliferation of fibrous tissue) and severe lung damage.
29. Total Lung Capacity (TLC) is represented by:
A. Vital Capacity + Residual Volume
B. Tidal Volume + Residual Volume
C. Inspiratory Capacity + Expiratory Reserve Volume
D. Expiratory Reserve Volume + Residual Volume
Answer: A. Vital Capacity + Residual Volume
Explanation: TLC is total volume of air accommodated in lungs at end of forced inspiration (TLC = RV + ERV + TV + IRV or VC + RV).
30. What is the role of oxygen in the regulation of respiratory rhythm under normal conditions?
A. Quite insignificant
B. Primary driving force
C. Same as CO2
D. Controls pneumotaxic centre directly
Answer: A. Quite insignificant
Explanation: The role of oxygen in the regulation of respiratory rhythm is quite insignificant compared to carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion levels.
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