alleryStart learning →How does alveolar air differ from atmospheric air?
ALess water vapour, less carbon dioxide, more oxygen
BMore water vapour, more carbon dioxide, less oxygen
CMore water vapour, less carbon dioxide, more oxygen
DLess water vapour, more carbon dioxide, less oxygen
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. More water vapour, more carbon dioxide, less oxygen
1. The airway humidifies incoming air, so alveolar air holds more water vapour than atmospheric air.
2. Gas exchange removes oxygen from alveolar air and adds carbon dioxide to it.
3. So alveolar air carries more water vapour, more carbon dioxide and less oxygen.
4. Every other option gets at least one of the three directions backwards.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.4 Gas Exchange_
Keep practising The Respiratory System
Browse all The Respiratory System questions for NEET PG, or explore more Physiology topics.
Related questions
Why is survival low for a baby born before 26 weeks?By how much has surfactant therapy reduced death from respiratory distress syndrome?What proportions of preterm infants are quoted as developing respiratory distress syndromeWhat happens to the fluid left in the lungs after delivery?How soon after birth does the first inhalation occur?What does the fetus move in and out during fetal breathing movements?Around which week do fetal breathing movements begin?When does a full complement of functional alveoli appear?