2006 AIPMT-PRE Breathing and Exchange of GasesAdaptation to High Altitude Easy Question 48 of 53 in Breathing and Exchange of Gases

People living at sea level have around 5 million RBC per cubic millimeter of their blood whereas those living at an altitude of 5400 metres have around 8 million. This is because at high altitude -

A People get pollution-free air to breathe and more oxygen is available
B Atmospheric $O_2$ level is less and hence more RBCs are needed to absorb the required amount of $O_2$ to survive
C There is more UV radiation which enhances RBC production
D People eat more nutritive food, therefore more RBCs are formed

The answer is B.

Solution

At high altitude the atmospheric pressure is low, so the partial pressure of oxygen in the air is low.
Less oxygen enters the blood with each breath, and the tissues tend to receive less oxygen (hypoxia).
The low oxygen level stimulates the kidneys to secrete the hormone erythropoietin.
Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.
With more RBCs, and therefore more haemoglobin, the blood can pick up and carry the required amount of oxygen even from the thin air.
It has nothing to do with pollution-free air, UV radiation or more nutritive food.
So at high altitude the atmospheric $O_2$ level is less, and hence more RBCs are needed to absorb the required amount of $O_2$ to survive.

Concept Erythropoiesis at high altitude

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53 questions from this chapter have appeared across 20 exam years.