Biology

Respiration and Gas Transport

606 Questions

Respiration and gas transport deal with the physiological mechanisms of breathing, including the role of hemoglobin in oxygen transport and the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood. Questions cover both aerobic and anaerobic processes, along with related phenomena like altitude sickness. This human biology topic is a staple in the science sections of competitive tests.

Oxygen and hemoglobin transportAnaerobic respiration effectsCarbon dioxide removalAltitude sickness causesBreathing rate regulation

Respiration and Gas Transport Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT associated with the features of metabolic acidosis?

  1. A decreased anion gap

  2. Cardiac arrest

  3. A low plasma bicarbonate

  4. Increased generation of acid

  5. Deep, rapid inspiration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The anion gap may be normal or increased in a metabolic acidosis. The anion gap can be increased due to relatively low levels of cations other than sodium and potassium (e.g. calcium or magnesium).

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of single-celled organisms. b. Organisms use oxygen sourced from outside the body to use it in the process of breakdown of food sources for cellular needs. c. The maintenance of life requires various life processes like nutrition, respiration, transport of materials within the body and excretion of waste products.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. b and c

  5. a and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both statements b and c are correct.

Multiple choice

As oxygen binding is to RBC, clotting is to

  1. white blood cells

  2. plasma

  3. platelets

  4. haemoglobin
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Each component of blood plays a role in particular. For example, RBC in respiration process by binding haemoglobin with oxygen, platelets in the clotting of blood and white blood cells as defensive agents by acting against germs.

Multiple choice

Among the following the most abundant heme is

  1. heme A

  2. heme B

  3. heme C

  4. heme O
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Heme B is the most abundant heme, both hemoglobin and myoglobin are examples of oxygen transport proteins that contain heme B. The peroxidase family of enzymes also contain heme B.

Multiple choice

Life without air is:

  1. impossible

  2. reductive

  3. anaerobic

  4. free from oxidation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Anaerobic means 'without air' or 'without oxygen'. Organisms that live without air are called anaerobic organisms, and they use processes like anaerobic respiration or fermentation to produce energy. Option C correctly identifies this term.

Multiple choice

The protein involved in the transfer of oxygen from arterial blood to the brain is ______________________.

  1. chlorocruorin

  2. hemoglobin

  3. cytoglobin

  4. myoglobin

  5. neuroglobin
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cytoglobin is a globin molecule ubiquitously expressed in all tissues and most notably utilized in marine mammals. It is thought to protect against hypoxia. The function of cytoglobin is the transfer of oxygen from arterial blood to the brain.

Multiple choice

Why do mountaineers carry oxygen cylinders with them while climbing high mountains?

  1. At high altitudes, pure oxygen is not available

  2. Oxygen available is very cold

  3. There is not sufficient amount of oxygen at higher altitudes

  4. The atmospheric pressure increases at higher altitudes

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, as height increases, the atmospheric pressure decreases. Therefore, when we move up the oxygen available for breathing becomes less and so the mountaineers need to carry oxygen cylinder to ensure sufficient oxygen supply.

Multiple choice

Which of the statements is / are incorrect?

  1. Atmospheric oxygen cannot be finished.

  2. Plants produce more oxygen than what they consume.

  3. Balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide is maintained by plants and animals.

  4. Plants are dependent on animals for food.

  5. Animals are dependent on plants for food.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No, plants make their own food. They require sunlight and CO2 and chlorophyll. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct? Breathing is an essential process of life because it

  1. brings to the blood the oxygen needed by the cells for cellular respiration
  2. rids the body of carbon dioxide
  3. promotes combination with oxygen in the lungs
  4. aids in the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

  1. 4 alone

  2. 1 and 2

  3. 1, 2 and 3

  4. 1, 2, 3, and 4

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All four statements correctly describe essential functions of breathing. Statement 1 is correct as breathing oxygenates blood. Statement 2 is correct as breathing removes CO2 from the body. Statement 3 refers to oxygen-hemoglobin combination in lungs. Statement 4 is correct as blood transports CO2 from tissues to lungs for exhalation. Together, these explain why breathing is vital for cellular respiration and survival.

Multiple choice

When there is a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the blood, the rate of breathing?

  1. Decreases

  2. increases

  3. Does not change

  4. first decreases, then increases
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When oxygen concentration in blood decreases, the body detects this through chemoreceptors and responds by increasing breathing rate to bring in more oxygen. This is a homeostatic reflex to maintain adequate oxygenation. Options A and C are wrong because breathing doesn't decrease or stay constant. Option D describes a pattern not seen in this reflex.