When you hold your breath, which of the following gas changes in blood would first lead to the urge to breathe?
- Falling CO2 concentration
- Rising CO2 and falling O2 concentration
- Falling O2 concentration
- Rising CO2 concentration
Answer
(4) Rising CO2 concentration
Solution
On holding the breath, CO2 (and H+) accumulates in the blood.
∵ As per NCERT, a chemosensitive area adjacent to the rhythm centre in the medulla is highly sensitive to CO2 and hydrogen ions; an increase in them activates this centre, which signals the rhythm centre to increase breathing.
∵ The role of oxygen in the regulation of respiratory rhythm is quite insignificant.
∴ The first stimulus for the urge to breathe is the rising CO2 concentration.
Answer: (4)