wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

If the CO2 concentration in the blood increases, the breathing shall

A
Increase
Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses
B
Decrease
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
C
Affected
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
D
Stop
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
Open in App
Solution

The correct option is A Increase
What most people don’t know is that it is, in fact, the level of CO2 rather than oxygen that usually drives breathing rate. Your body’s ability to detect specific concentrations of CO2 is extremely sensitive. If the level of CO2 in your blood increases by a mere 10%, your rate of breathing will double. The answer comes from the way CO2 is transported. Instead of being bound to hemoglobin, the CO2 mostly just dissolves in your blood. When the CO2 dissolves, it combines with the water in your blood to form carbonic acid. As this acid builds up, it dramatically decreases the pH of your blood, throwing it out of balance. Your brainstem detects this pH change, and speeds up your breathing rate in order to to get rid of the extra CO2.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Regulation of Respiration
BIOLOGY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon