Severing the Sensory Fibers from the Lungs Would Result in All

Question

Severing the sensory fibers from the lungs would result in all of the following except
A) less inhibition of the inspiratory center during forced breathing.
B) a drop in tidal volume.
C) potential damage to the lungs due to overinflation.
D) a disappearance of the Hering-Breuer reflexes.
E) less stimulation of the expiratory center during forced breathing.

Accepted Answer

Severing the sensory fibers from the lungs would not directly affect tidal volume under normal, resting conditions. Tidal volume is primarily regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem, which adjusts breathing rate and depth based on CO2 levels in the blood, not on sensory input from the lungs. Choices A, C, D, and E all relate to the loss of protective reflexes and feedback mechanisms that would be affected by severing sensory fibers, such as the Hering-Breuer reflexes that prevent overinflation of the lungs.