Which two of the following changes(a-d) usually tend to occur in plain...
When plain dwellers move to high altitudes, the red blood cell production increases. This is in response to the low oxygen content of the air at high altitudes and thus more RBCs (and hence more Hb) are needed to absorb the required amount of O2 from the air. Breathing rate also increases so that the required amount of O2 reaches all the tissues of the body.
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Which two of the following changes(a-d) usually tend to occur in plain...
Changes in Plain Dwellers at Higher Altitudes
At higher altitudes (3500m or more), plain dwellers experience various physiological changes in order to adapt to the reduced oxygen levels. The two changes that usually occur in plain dwellers when they move to higher altitudes are:
(ii) Increase in red blood cell production
- When plain dwellers move to higher altitudes, their bodies respond to the decrease in oxygen availability by increasing the production of red blood cells.
- Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues. By increasing the number of red blood cells, the body can transport more oxygen to the tissues, compensating for the reduced oxygen levels at higher altitudes.
- This increase in red blood cell production is mediated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which is released by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels.
- The increased red blood cell production helps improve oxygen delivery to the tissues and enhances the individual's ability to perform physical activities at higher altitudes.
(iii) Increase in breathing rate
- Another change that occurs in plain dwellers when they move to higher altitudes is an increase in breathing rate.
- The reduced oxygen levels at higher altitudes trigger a response in the respiratory system to increase the amount of oxygen taken in with each breath.
- This increased breathing rate helps to compensate for the lower oxygen saturation in the blood and ensures an adequate oxygen supply to the body tissues.
- The body's respiratory centers in the brain respond to the low oxygen levels by stimulating the respiratory muscles to increase the rate and depth of breathing.
- As a result, plain dwellers experience a higher respiratory rate, allowing them to extract more oxygen from each breath and maintain sufficient oxygen levels in the body.
Overall, the increase in red blood cell production and breathing rate are two important physiological changes that occur in plain dwellers when they move to higher altitudes. These adaptations help improve oxygen delivery to the tissues and ensure the individual's ability to cope with the lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes.
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