Biology

Respiration and Gas Exchange

989 Questions

Access a targeted set of questions on respiration and gas exchange for competitive exams. Topics include lung volumes, the mechanism of breathing, and respiratory anatomy. Understanding these physiological processes is essential for scoring well.

Lung volumes and capacitiesBreathing mechanismsRespiratory anatomyGas exchange processes

Respiration and Gas Exchange Questions

Multiple choice biology breath and blood of life human respiration the mechanism of breathing breathing and its movements

One of the following depend more on ribs and their muscles for breathing than diaphragm.

  1. Female (human)

  2. Monkey

  3. Kangaroo

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The ribs and the various muscles of respiration aid in both inspiration and expiration, which require changes in the pressure within the thoracic cavity. The important respiratory muscles are the diaphragm, the external intercostal and the internal intercostal muscles. The ribs and the respiratory muscles work to achieve this by changing the dimensions of the thoracic cavity.
When a person inhales, the rib cage move out and up in order to accommodate the incoming air. On the other hand, when a person exhales, the rib cage move in, in order to expel the carbon dioxide. Both the external intercostal muscles and the internal intercostal muscles elevate the ribs, thus increasing the width of the thoracic cavity, while the diaphragm contracts to increase the vertical dimensions of the thoracic cavity, and also aids in the elevation of the lower ribs. The muscles that connect the ribs together ensure that the diaphragm can expand and contract appropriately as air is breathed in and expelled. Thus, in mammals, breathing depends more on ribs and their muscles for breathing than diaphragm.

Multiple choice biology breath and blood of life human respiration the mechanism of breathing breathing and its movements

______ is the muscle responsible in respiration.

  1. Diaphragm

  2. Muscle tissue

  3. Heart

  4. Lungs

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Diaphragm is a muscular and tendinous sheath that closes the opening between thorax and abdomen and is pierced by structures that pass between these two regions of the body. The diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration. Diaphragm is the primary respiratory muscle of the body. It, on contraction, increases the vertical diameter of the chest cavity by pulling its central tendon downwards. In this way, the lungs get extra space to expand and air rushes into them. 

Multiple choice biology breath and blood of life human respiration the mechanism of breathing breathing and its movements

Which of the following is correct

  1. The diaphragm contracts - volume of chest cavity increased

  2. The diaphragm contracts - volume of chest cavity decreased

  3. The diaphragm expands - volume of chest cavity increased

  4. The diaphragm expands - volume of chest cavity decreased

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When the diaphragm contracts, it flattens and moves downward, which increases the vertical dimension and volume of the chest cavity, leading to inhalation.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Lungs made up of which structures 

  1. Branching network of Bronchi

  2. Bronchioles

  3. Alveoli

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Lungs are the main respiratory organs of the human respiratory system. The windpipe or trachea divides into two branches called bronchi, entering into each lung. Each bronchus in the lung further divides to form many bronchioles. These bronchioles end up in a sac-like structure called the alveoli.  Hence, the lungs are made up of bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli.

Hence, the correct answer is 'All of the above'.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

The lungs are protected by two membranes called ________

  1. Pleural membrane

  2. Meninges

  3. Mucous membrane

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The lungs are protected by two membranes called the pleural membranes. The outer pleural membrane is called the pleura and the inner one is called the visceral or pulmonary layer. There is a space between the two layers called the intrapleural space. It is filled with fluid to keep the lungs protected from the shocks and injuries.

A. Pleural membranes are present around the lungs.
B. Meninges are present around the brain and spinal cord.
C. Mucous membranes are present around he visceral organs.
Hence, the correct answer is 'Pleural Membrane'.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange in humans gas exchange and smoking gas exchange respiratory system in humans

The mucus produced by the goblet cells 
(I) Moistens the incoming air
(II) Traps the finest dust particles
(III) Filter out largest dust particles
(IV) Warm the incoming air

  1. I and II

  2. II and III

  3. Only IV

  4. All of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A column-shaped cell found in the respiratory and intestinal tracts, which secretes the main component of mucus. The mucus produced by the goblet cells traps the finest dust particles and filter out largest dust particles.

So, the correct option is 'II and III'.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

When there is no air in initial bronchioles, they do not collapse. It is due to the presence of _________________.

  1. Lecithin

  2. Complete cartilaginous rings

  3. Incomplete cartilaginous rings

  4. Transformed elastic cartilage

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is due to the presence of transformed elastic cartilage which gives support to the initial bronchioles and prevents it from collapsing. The incomplete cartilaginous rings that are present in the trachea and bronchi are absent in the bronchioles. They are supported by the transformed elastic cartilage.

So, the correct option is 'transformed elastic cartilage'.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

The capacity of lungs for air in a healthy man is 

  1. 500 ml

  2. 1000 ml

  3. 1500 ml

  4. 3000 ml

  5. 6000 ml

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Total lung capacity (TLC) is the maximum amount of air the lungs can hold when they are fully inflated. The average total lung capacity of an adult human male is about 6 litres of air. It can be calculated by using the formula TLC = TV + IRV + ERV + RV where TV is tidal volume(500 ml), IRV is inspiratory reserve volume(3100 ml), ERV is expiratory reserve volume (1200 ml) and RV (1200  ml) stands for residual volume.

So, the correct answer is option E.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Which of the following prevents collapsing of trachea?

  1. Muscles

  2. Diaphragm

  3. Ribs

  4. Cartilaginous rings

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Trachea is a straight tube extending up to the mid-thoracic cavity, which divides at the level of 5th thoracic vertebra into a right and left primary bronchi. Each bronchi undergoes repeated divisions to form the secondary and tertiary bronchi and bronchioles ending up in very thin terminal bronchioles. The tracheae, primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi and initial bronchioles are supported by incomplete cartilaginous rings, which prevents them from collapsing. Each terminal bronchiole gives rise to a number of very thin, irregular walled and vascularised bag-like structures called as alveoli. The branching network of bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli comprise the lungs.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Mammalian lungs are

  1. Hollow

  2. Soft and spongy

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The lungs of mammals including those of humans are soft, spongy, elastic organs with the smooth shining surface. Lungs are not hollow like balloons but are made of spongy, flexible tissue that inflates, when filled with air.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Wall of alveoli is composed of

  1. Simple squamous epithelium

  2. Simple cuboidal epithelium

  3. Pseudostratified epithelium

  4. Simple columnar epithelium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The walls of the alveoli are lined with simple squamous epithelial cells known as alveolar cells. This single layer of squamous cells is ideal for the diffusion of gases in the lungs.

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Narrowest and most abundant tubes of lungs are

  1. Bronchioles

  2. Bronchus

  3. Alveoli

  4. Trachea

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The trachea branches to give rise to two primary (main) bronchi. These then branch successively to give rise in turn to secondary and tertiary bronchi. These then branch to give rise to several orders of progressively smaller airways called bronchioles, the smallest of which are called terminal bronchioles. These are the last components of the conducting portion of the respiratory system. Terminal bronchioles give rise to respiratory bronchioles, which ultimately lead to the alveoli.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

How are alveoli designed to maximize the exchange of gases?

  1. By increasing the surface area of trachea

  2. By decreasing the surface area of the lungs

  3. By increasing the surface area of the lungs for gaseous exchange

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Alveoli are small pouches or sacs. Large number of alveoli occur inside each lung. The whole surface area of an alveolus functions as a respiratory surface. Due to large number of  alveoli in each lung, a very large area of respiratory surface becomes available (about $80{ m }^{ 2 }$) for exchange of gases. Thus, alveoli are designed to maximize the exchange of gases.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology gas exchange and smoking gas exchange gas exchange in humans respiratory system in humans

Lungs have large number of narrow tubes called as

  1. Alveoli

  2. Bronchi

  3. Bronchioles

  4. Tracheae

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Trachea is a straight tube extending up to the mid-thoracic cavity, which divides at the level of 5th thoracic vertebra into a right and left primary bronchi. Each bronchi undergoes repeated divisions to form the secondary and tertiary bronchi and bronchioles ending up in very thin terminal bronchioles. The tracheae, primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi, and initial bronchioles are supported by incomplete cartilaginous rings. Each terminal bronchiole gives rise to a number of very thin, irregular walled and vascularised bag-like structures called alveoli. The branching network of bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli comprise the lungs. Thus trachea and bronchi are present outside the lungs and alveoli are tiny bags of lungs.