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Module 02 · Anaesthesia Blueprints

Physiology: exam notes and MCQs

Prepare physiology for postgraduate anaesthesia examinations with structured notes, exam-style questions and referenced explanations from standard textbooks and current guidelines.

Practise all 85 Physiology questions free →

Exam notes in this module

Oxygen transport and the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve
Oxygen content and delivery, haemoglobin cooperativity, curve shifts and dyshaemoglobins.
Lung volumes, FRC and closing capacity
Static volumes, the significance of FRC, airway closure and the respiratory effects of anaesthesia.
Ventilation–perfusion matching and control of breathing
Distribution of V and Q, West zones, shunt and dead space, HPV and the chemical control of ventilation.
Cerebral physiology and intracranial pressure
Cerebral blood flow and metabolism, autoregulation, CO₂ reactivity, ICP and drug effects.
Acid–base physiology
Buffer systems, the stepwise approach, compensation, anion gap, delta ratio and the Stewart approach.
Cardiac cycle and determinants of cardiac output
Mechanical events, pressure–volume relationships, preload, afterload, contractility and venous return.

Sample questions

Q1. Which of the following shifts the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve to the LEFT?

  1. Acidosis
  2. Hypothermia
  3. Raised 2,3-DPG
  4. Hypercapnia
Show answer

Answer B: Hypothermia

Hypothermia, alkalosis, hypocapnia, fetal Hb and carboxyhaemoglobin raise affinity (left shift, lower P50). Acidosis, hypercapnia, fever and 2,3-DPG lower affinity (right shift).

Exam style: NEET-SS Anaesthesia

Q2. Anatomical dead space in a healthy adult is approximately:

  1. 1 mL/kg
  2. 2 mL/kg
  3. 4 mL/kg
  4. 6 mL/kg
Show answer

Answer B: 2 mL/kg

About 2 mL/kg (roughly 150 mL), the volume of conducting airways. Physiological dead space adds alveolar dead space; VD/VT is normally about 0.3.

Exam style: NEET-SS Anaesthesia

Q3. The P50 of fetal haemoglobin is approximately:

  1. 13 mmHg (1.7 kPa)
  2. 19 mmHg (2.5 kPa)
  3. 26.7 mmHg (3.5 kPa)
  4. 35 mmHg (4.7 kPa)
  5. 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)
Show answer

Answer B: 19 mmHg (2.5 kPa)

HbF (α₂γ₂) binds 2,3-DPG poorly, giving higher O₂ affinity (left shift, P50 ≈ 19 mmHg) — facilitating placental O₂ transfer from maternal blood (P50 ≈ 26.7 mmHg, further right-shifted in pregnancy).

Exam style: FRCA (Primary/Final)

Study the whole module

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