Question Bank

Respiratory System

1. Name the following :

(i) The condition in which the oxygen supply to the
respiratory system is cut off.
(ii) The membrane enveloping the lungs.
(iii) The part of the tidal air that effectively takes part in the
gaseous exchange in the lungs.
(iv) Sum total of tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume and
expiratory reserve volume.
(v) A muscular sheet of tissue extending across the body
cavity between thorax and abdomen.
Ans. (i) Asphyxiation (ii) Pleura (iii) Alveolar air
(iv) Vital capacity of lung (v) Diaphragm.
2. Fill in the blanks :
(i) ____________ of the lungs is the volume of air that can be
taken in and expelled by maximum inspiration and
expiration. (vital capacity / total lung capacity / tidal
volume)
(ii) The respiratory centre is located in the _______________.
(cerebrum / cerebellum / medulla oblongata)
(iii) Nasal passage is lined by ___________. (flagella/ciliated
epithelium/cilia)
(iv) Exchange of air takes place between capillaries and
__________. (alveoli / bronchi / trachea)
(v) Respiration is a __________ process. (physical / chemical
/ biochemical)
Ans. (i) Vital capacity (ii) Medulla oblongata
(iii) Ciliated epithelium (iv) Alveoli (v) Biochemical.

Biology Class-IX 1 Question Bank

 3. Mention, if the following statements are true or false. If false,
rewrite the sentence by changing only the words printed in
bold face.
(i) Total alveolar surface in adult man is 100 m2.
(ii) Oxygen combines with the globin part of haemoglobin.
(iii) Cartilaginous rings around the trachea prevent its collapse.
(iv) Tidal volume is the volume of air breathed in or out with
maximum effort.
(v) Residual volume is the volume of air left in the lungs
after the deepest expiration.
Ans. (i) True (ii) False (Haemo) (iii) True
(iv) False (Vital capacity) (v) True
4. Which are the three activities involved in the internal
respiration?
Ans. (i) Oxygen uptake by tissue cells.
(ii) Oxidation of food material with the help of oxidising
enzymes inside tissues.
(iii) Elimination of CO2 from the tissues.
5. What are the steps involved in pulmonary respiration?
Ans. (i) Pulmonary respiration requires breathing movements
which includes inspiration and expiration.
(ii) Inspired air is exchanged over the surface of alveoli where
O2 is taken in and CO2 given out.
(iii) The oxygen taken in is transported to the tissues and
carbon-dioxide laden air is expired out.
6. What is the requirement of highly efficient surface for gas
exchange?
Ans. Efficient respiratory surface should have large surface area. It
should be thin, easily permeable and should be highly
vascular.

Biology Class-IX 2 Question Bank

 7. What are the functions of
(i) Ribs (ii) Diaphragm
(iii) Epiglottis (iv) Vocal cords
(v) Ciliated epithelium lining the respiratory tract
(vi) Mitochondria
Ans. (i) Ribs :
(a) Form a protective bony cage around the organs in the
thoracic cavity.
(b) They aid in the process of inspiration and expiration.
(ii) Diaphragm :
(a) A sheet of muscular tissue separating the thorax and
abdomen.
(b) The contraction and relaxation of diaphragm causes
the change in thoracic cavity volume which results in
breathing in and breathing out movements.
(iii) Epiglottis :
(a) A muscular flap which guards the opening of the
windpipe. At the time of swallowing food, the
epiglottis closes the tracheal opening, thereby
preventing the food from entering the windpipe.
(b) Foodpipe is partially closed by epiglottis when not in
use. Choking and coughing are reflex actions which
tend to remove foreign particles that may have
accidentally entered the trachea.
(iv) Vocal cords : Air expelled between the vocal cords
vibrates them, producing sound. By adjusting the distance
between the two cords and their tension by the means of
attached muscles, a range of sounds is produced.
(v) Ciliated epithelium lining the respiratory tract : During
life time cilia are constantly in motion driving any fluid
(mucus) that is on them and also any particles that may
have come in with the air towards the mouth.

Biology Class-IX 3 Question Bank

 (vi) Mitochondria : Releases of energy from food in the form
of ATP acting as seat of cellular respiration and storing
energy.
8. Differentiate between the following pairs on the basis of the
aspect given in the brackets.
(i) Catabolism and anabolism
(ii) Pleural fluid and pericardial fluid
(iii) Aerobic and anaerobic respiration (end products of the
process)
(iv) Respiration and photosynthesis (gas released)
(v) Aerobic and anaerobic respiration (end products)
Ans. (i) Catabolism : Biochemical reactions involved in the
breakdown of complex protoplasmic molecules to simpler
ones are collectively called catabolism.
Anabolism : Biochemical reactions involved in the synthesis
of complex protoplasmic molecules from simple ones are
collectively called anabolism.
(ii) Pleural fluid lubricates the lung, while pericardial fluid
lubricates the heart.
(iii) Aerobic respiration involves complete breakdown of
glucose in absence of air, liberating large amount of energy
(38 ATP). Anaerobic respiration involves incomplete
breakdown of glucose in absence of air, liberating only 2
molecules of ATP.
(iv) CO2 is released in respiration. O2 (oxygen) is released in
photosynthesis.
(v) Aerobic respiration – end products are carbon dioxide,
water, energy (38 ATP).
Anaerobic respiration – end products are lactic acid, energy
(2 ATP).

Biology Class-IX 4 Question Bank

 9. The figure below shows a ventral view of human thorax.

(i) Label 1-15

(ii) What are the devices for the protection of lungs?
(iii) What is the importance of structure 12?
(iv) Why is the trachea lined with C-shaped rings of cartilage?
(v) With the help of ray diagram, name all parts in a sequence,
through which atmospheric air reaches the last part of our
lungs.
Ans. (i) 1-Nasal cavity; 2-Hard palate; 3-Soft palate; 4-Epiglottis;
5-Oesophagus; 6-Larynx; 7-Cartilage rings; 8-Trachea; 9-
Cut end of ribs; 10-Bronchus; 11-Bronchiole; 12-
Alveolus; 13-Right lung; 14-Diaphragm; 15-Pleural
membrane.
(ii) Lungs are protected by a rib cage and the pleura forms a
protective membrane over the lungs.
(iii) Alveoli offers a good respiratory surface for gaseous
exchange.

Biology Class-IX 5 Question Bank

 (iv) Trachea is protected against closure by a series at closely
packed C-shaped rings at cartilage. These cartilaginous
rings support the wall of trachea on the dorsal side to
prevent them from collapsing. The trachea remains open
permanently and allows easy passage of air.
(v) Nasal cavity → Nasopharynx → Larynx → Trachea →
Bronchi and Bronchioles → Alveolar ducts → Alveolar
air sacs → Pulmonary alveoli.
10. Given below is the relative position of ribs, diaphragm and
sternum after breathing in and out.

(i) Differentiate between inspiration and expiration with

reference to intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
(ii) What is the composition of the inspired air? How is it
different from the expired air?
(iii) How will you prove that water is released during
breathing?
(iv) “When we hold our breath, the exchange of gases does not
stop for some time.”
Explain this statement.

Biology Class-IX 6 Question Bank

Ans. (i)
Inspiration Expiration
(a) Intercostal muscles The muscles relax and the sternum is
These muscles contract, raising pulled in and ribs are depressed
the lower portion of the sternum under their own weight, thus the
forward and the lower ribs volume of thoracic cavity is reduced.
upwards and outwards increasing
the volume of thoracic cavity.
(b) Diaphragm
It contracts and flattens, thus Along with intercostal muscles, the
increasing the volume of the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its
thoracic cavity. arched position, thus decreasing the
volume of the thoracic cavity.
(ii)
Component Inspired Air Expired Air
Oxygen 20.14% 16.3%
Carbon dioxide 0.3% 4.0%
Nitrogen 79.03% 79.7%
Water vapour Low High
(iii) Gently breathe upon a cold surface, such as a piece of
glass or slate; the water droplets appearing on the surface
prove the presence of moisture in expired air.
(iv) This is due to the presence of residual volume of air in
lungs.
11. What is the function of Adam’s apple?
Ans. (i) Adam’s apple also called the voice box, consists of two
ligamentous folds called vocal cords. Vibrations of these
cords produce sounds.
(ii) It also functions as a passage for air.
12. Give reasons why one should not talk while eating.
Ans. If we talk while eating, the food may enter into the larynx
along with air, which could block the air breathing channels.

Biology Class-IX 7 Question Bank

13. Design an experiment to demonstrate that expired air contains
more carbon dioxide than inspired air.
Ans. Aim : To prove that expired air contains
more carbon dioxide than inspired air.
Apparatus : A T-tube with clips, two
flasks containing lime water, delivery
tubes.
Procedure : The apparatus is set up as
shown.
Clip X open, Clip Y closed
Breathe in (inhale) through the tube at the centre.
Clip X closed, Clip Y open
Breathe out (exhale) through the tube at the centre. Repeat the
above procedure about 10-15 times.
Observation : Lime water in flask B turns milky faster than
the lime water in flask A.
Inference : When clip X is open and clip Y closed,
atmospheric air is drawn to the flask A.
When clip X is closed and clip Y is opened, exhaled air is
forced into flask B.
The result of the experiment shows that expired air contains
more carbon dioxide than inspired air.
14. Breathing through nose is said to be healthier than through the
mouth.
Ans. Breathing through nose allows the air to undergo filtration in
the nasal chambers, cleaning by trapping minute dust and other
particles in mucus and cilia push them outwards, sterilization
with the help of chemicals present in mucus, moistening
through water vapour coming from mucus and changing the
temperature while passing over lining of nasal cavity. It is,
therefore, said that breathing through nose is healthier than
through the mouth.

Biology Class-IX 8 Question Bank

15. What is the effect of altitude on breathing?
Ans. At high altitudes, the reduced atmospheric pressure makes it
difficult to load the haemoglobin with oxygen. In an attempt to
obtain sufficient oxygen, a mountaineer takes very deep
breaths. This also forces more carbon dioxide out of the body
and the level of carbon dioxide in blood therefore falls. The
inspiratory centre is no longer stimulated and breathing
becomes increasingly laboured, causing great fatigue.
16. Give similarities and differences between plant respiration and
animal respiration.
Ans.
Plant Respiration Animal Respiration
Similarities
1. Cellular respiration produces Cellular respiration produces energy
energy which is stored as ATP. which is stored as ATP.

2. The process occurs partly in The process occurs partly in

cytoplasm and partly in cytoplasm and partly in
mitochondria. mitochondria.

3. By-products are CO2 and water. By-products are CO2 and water.
Dissimilarities
1. No external ventilation External ventilation (breathing)
(breathing) movements. movements except in small animals
like amoeba or hydra.
2. No special gas transport system The blood system transports oxygen.
(usually direct diffusion from air
spaces, or from cell to cell).
3. Anaerobic respiration forms ethyl Anaerobic respiration forms lactic
alcohol and CO2. acid only and no CO2.
4. Green plants produce little Animals produce considerable
detectable heat. detectable heat.
5. Green plants have additional Aerobic animals have only one
oxygen source from oxygen source, the air.
photosynthesis.
6. Respiration rate is low. Respiration rate is high.

Biology Class-IX 9 Question Bank

17. Alveoli offer a good respiratory surface for gaseous exchange.
Comment.
Ans. The alveoli offer a good respiratory surface for gaseous
exchange :
(a) The alveoli have thin walls, made of single layer
epithelium which is readily permeable to gases.
(b) Elastic structure and smooth muscle fibres make the
alveoli easily distensible and capable of accommodating
large air volumes.
(c) Each alveolus is covered with a thick net of capillaries
derived from the pulmonary artery.
(d) The lining of the alveoli is covered with a film of
moisture. Oxygen dissolves in the moisture and diffuses
through the epithelium and capillary walls into the blood
where it combines with the haemoglobin.
(e) Both lungs contain 300 to 400 million microscopic alveoli
which in a normal adult have a diameter of 0.2 mm.
Owing to the large number of alveoli, the lungs have an
enormous respiratory surface (almost 100 m2 during
inspiration in an average adult).
18. Choose the right answer out of the four choices given in each
case.The (alveoli/bronchioles/tracheoles/bronchi) are the
ultimate end parts of the respiratory system in humans.
Ans. Alveoli.
19. With regard to the respiratory system and the process of
respiration in man, answer the following questions :
(i) Name the two muscles that help in respiration.
(ii) Briefly describe how the above mentioned muscles help in
the inspiration of air.
(iii) Give the overall chemical equation to represent the
process of respiration in man.
(iv) What is meant by : (a) Residual air? (b) Dead air space?

Biology Class-IX 10 Question Bank

Ans. (i) (a) External Intercostal, (b) Internal Intercostal Muscles.
(ii) The process of respiration is completed in two steps —
Inspiration and expiration. It is supported by external and
internal intercostal muscles.
During inspiration, the volume of the thoracic cavity
increases with the combined movement of sternum, ribs and
diaphragm by the contraction of external intercostal muscles.
The volume of thoracic cavity increases all around and
abdominal muscles relax. The pressure of the air inside the
lungs decreases in comparison to the atmospheric pressure and
the fresh air rushes into the lungs. During expiration, the
volume of the thoracic cavity decreases because of the
relaxation of the internal intercostal muscles and downward
movement of ribs and sternum. The diaphragm moves upward
and abdominal muscles contract. The air pressure inside the
lungs is more than the pressure of atmospheric air outside, so
the air is expelled out.
(iii) C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 ATP.
(iv) (a) Residual air : This is the amount of air left in the
alveoli of lungs even after forceful expiration. It is
about 1500 ml, which always remains in lungs.
(b) Dead air space : It is the volume of air found in the
respiratory tract where no diffusion of gases can
occur. It is around 150 ml.
20. Given below are certain functional activities of specific
structures in the body of living organisms. Name the structure
responsible for the same.
(i) Prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing.
(ii) Transfers impulses from inner ear to brain.
(iii) Initiates cell division in animal cells.
(iv) Helps to change the focal length of the eye lens.
(v) Transports oxygen to the cells of the human body.
(vi) Helps to increase the volume of the chest cavity lengthwise.

Biology Class-IX 11 Question Bank

Ans. (i) Epiglottis. (ii) Auditory nerve
(iii) Centrosome with centriole
(iv) Suspensory ligament along with cilliary muscles.
(v) Red blood cells (vi) Diaphragm
21. Match the items in column I with the ones most appropriate in
column II. Rewrite the matching pairs.
Column I Column II
(i) Alveoli Where aerobic respiration takes place
(ii) Bronchioles Lined with hair
(iii) Nasal chamber Diffusion of gases
(iv) Pharynx Small air tubes
A common passage for food and air.
Ans. (i) Alveoli – diffusion of gases.
(ii) Bronchioles – small air tubes.
(iii) Nasal chamber – lined with hair
(iv) Pharynx – a common passage for food and air.
22. The volume of air in the lungs and the rate at which it is
exchanged during inspiration and expiration is measured with
a spirometer. The following diagram shows the spirogram of
lung volumes and capacities.
Study the graph carefully and explain briefly the following :

(i) Tidal volume (TV).

(ii) Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV).
(iii) Expiratory reserve volume (ERV).
(iv) Vital capacity (VC).
(v) Residual volume (RV).

Biology Class-IX 12 Question Bank

Ans. (i) Air breathed in and out in a normal quiet breathing
(500 cm3).
(ii) Air that can be drawn in forcibly over and above the tidal
air (3000 cm3).
(iii) Air that can be expelled out forcibly after an ordinary
respiration (1000 cm3).
(iv) The volume of air that can be taken in and expelled out by
maximum inspiration and expiration (vital capacity = 4500
cm3).
(v) The leftover air in the lungs even after forcibly breathing
out (1200 cm3).

Biology Class-IX 13 Question Bank