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Body Fluids And Circulations

Question
CBSEENBI11002242

People who have migrated from the planes to an area adjoining Rohtang Pass about six months back 

  • Have more RBCs and their haemoglobin has a lower binding affinity of O2

  • are not physically fit to play games like football

  • Suffer from altitude sickness with symptoms like nausea, fatigue, etc

  • Have the usual RBC count but their haemoglobin has very high binding affinuty of O2

Solution

A.

Have more RBCs and their haemoglobin has a lower binding affinity of O2

As a person moves up a hill the pO2 and total atmospheric pressure decreases. Decrease in pO2 due to increasing altitude, stimulates the JG-cells of kidney to secrete erythropoietin hormone, increasing the number of RBCs (polycythemia) to compensate the supply of O2. At higher altitude, haemoglobin has lower binding affinity to O2 because the primary factor responsible for binding is pO2, which decreases at higher altitude.