Breathing and Exchange of Gases MCQs for NEET — Zoology Questions with Answers

Dead space refers to areas of the respiratory system where no gas exchange occurs. The upper respiratory tract, including the nose, pharynx, and trachea, is considered dead space because it only conducts air to the lungs but does not participate in gas exchange.

• Upper respiratory tract: Includes nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx.
• Lower respiratory tract: Includes the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, where the alveolar spaces are situated.

Carbon dioxide in tobacco smoke can bind to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to decreased oxygen supply to tissues.

• Carboxyhemoglobin: Formed when carbon dioxide binds irreversibly to hemoglobin, reducing its ability to carry oxygen.
• Effects: Can cause hypoxia and decrease overall oxygen delivery to the body's tissues.

Pulmonary ventilation refers to the total volume of air moved into and out of the respiratory system per minute. Alveolar ventilation is the volume of air that reaches the alveoli and is available for gas exchange per minute. Because some of the air remains in the conducting airways (anatomical dead space) and does not participate in gas exchange, alveolar ventilation is always less than pulmonary ventilation.

An increase in CO₂ concentration in the blood leads to a condition known as hypercapnia. The body responds to hypercapnia by increasing the rate and depth of breathing (faster and deeper breathing) to expel more CO₂ and bring the levels back to normal. This response is mediated by chemoreceptors that sense the elevated CO₂ levels and stimulate the respiratory centers in the brain.

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is caused by a coronavirus, specifically the SARS-CoV virus. The coronavirus family also includes viruses that cause the common cold, but SARS is caused by a different, more severe variant. It is important to distinguish between different diseases caused by coronaviruses.

Mountain sickness, also known as altitude sickness, occurs due to the decreased partial pressure of oxygen at high altitudes. This lower oxygen availability leads to hypoxia, causing symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. The body struggles to get enough oxygen to its tissues, leading to the symptoms of mountain sickness.

Silicosis is associated with the spreading of fibrous tissue in the lungs (P 1). Emphysema is characterized by little alveolar elasticity (Q 2). Asthma involves the muscles of the wall of the trachea (R 3). Bronchitis is marked by a burning sensation of the bronchus (S 4). Therefore, the correct pairs are P 1, Q 2, R 3, S 4.

In an emergency, the central nervous system (CNS) stimulates the adrenal gland. The CNS sends signals to the adrenal medulla, which then secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline to prepare the body for a 'fight or flight' response.

The walls of spiracles in insects like cockroaches are lined with chitinous bristles. These bristles help in filtering out dust particles and other debris, preventing them from entering the tracheal system. Chitin is a structural component in the exoskeletons of arthropods, making it a suitable material for this function.