Question

You're planning on climbing Mt. Everest and you're smart; you spend several days in Namche Bazaar to acclimate. The air pressure at this altitude (11,290 feet above sea level) is much lower (~30% less than in orange county). Initially, breathing Namche Bazaar is difficult. In the short term, how will your body adapt its breathing?

A) Just go home…
B) Lengthen your airways
C) Create even lower pressure in your lungs by expanding your thoracic cavity more

D) Constrict your airways

Answer 1

Most appropriate answer is "C"

Explanation- At higher altitudes the air pressure is low which also cause less oxygen in the atmosphere. Human body adapts to this new atmosphere by increasing the ventilation.This can be done by increasing the rate of respiration and the depth of breathing.

The body adapts by expanding the thoracic cavity more,this will increase the volume in the thoracic cavity and will decrease the pressure.As the pressure difference between the atmosphere and the lungs increase, air will be drawn in more efficiently. This will increase ventilation.