Control of breathing and lung disorders — practice questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

Destruction of alveolar walls with reduced respiratory surface is characteristic of:

• A. anaemia
• B. asthma
• C. emphysema
• D. hypertension

Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

The primary respiratory rhythm centre is located in the:

• A. retina
• B. medulla oblongata
• C. spinal cord lumbar region
• D. cerebral cortex only

Question 3 · difficulty L1 · recall

Where is the respiratory rhythm centre primarily located?

• A. Cerebellum
• B. Medulla oblongata
• C. Hypothalamus
• D. Spinal cord only

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · recall

The basic rhythm of respiration is generated by a centre located in which part of the human brain?

• A. Cerebellum
• B. Medulla oblongata
• C. Cerebrum
• D. Hypothalamus

Question 5 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Which chemical change is a major stimulus for increasing ventilation in humans?

• A. A fall in nitrogen concentration
• B. A small rise in blood oxygen concentration
• C. An increase in carbon dioxide and H+ concentration
• D. An increase in plasma glucose

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · application

A person repeatedly inhales cigarette smoke and progressively loses alveolar surface area because alveolar walls are damaged. Which disorder best matches this change?

• A. Occupational fibrosis only
• B. Asthma
• C. Pneumonia
• D. Emphysema

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · understanding

Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : A person goes to high altitude and experiences "Altitude Sickness" with symptoms like breathing difficulty and heart palpitations. Reason (R) : Due to low atmospheric pressure at high altitude, the body does not get sufficient oxygen. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. (A) is true but (R) is false
• B. (A) is false but (R) is true
• C. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• D. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Question 8 · difficulty L4 · analysis

A worker is chronically exposed to fine industrial dust that causes inflammation and fibrosis of lung tissue. Which category best describes the resulting problem?

• A. Occupational respiratory disorder
• B. Normal adaptation to exercise
• C. Only an upper-airway infection
• D. A defect in haemoglobin structure

Question 9 · difficulty L5 · analysis

Blood carbon dioxide rises because ventilation suddenly falls. Chemosensitive regions detect the change and stimulate respiratory centres. What corrective response is expected in a healthy person?

• A. Ventilation decreases further
• B. Ventilation increases, helping remove excess carbon dioxide
• C. Haemoglobin stops binding oxygen permanently
• D. The respiratory centres become inactive