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

Read the following statements (I - III) and identify by which of the following mechanisms, the human body acclimatizes to the less availability of oxygen at higher altitudes?

I. Increasing the number of red blood cells.
II. Increasing the affinity of haemoglobin towards oxygen.
III. Decreasing breathing rate.

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

The correct option is D Only I
Adaptation or acclimatisation refers to the morphological, physiological or behavioural attributes that allow organisms to survive in their habitats (the natural environment of the organism).

As we move to higher altitudes, the density of gases in air decreases gradually. Due to this the availability of oxygen at higher altitude is less. This causes people, moving to places at higher elevations, to initially experience (altitude sickness) difficulty in breathing, dizziness, etc.

This feeling however passes with time and an individual gets adapted to the atmospheric conditions of higher altitudes. This is due to some short term and long term physiological adaptations in the body. They are as follows :
  • For short term relief, the breathing rate is increased so that more oxygen can be inhaled per minute. The affinity of haemoglobin towards oxygen is also reduced to allow faster dissociation of the oxyhaemoglobin complex near the tissues. So that oxygen is free to diffuse into the cells. Hence statement II and III are incorrect.
  • Long term adaptation include the increase in the number of red blood cells to increase the transport of available oxygen to the tissues. Thus statement I is correct.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
1
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Adaptations in Mountain Animals
BIOLOGY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon