Question

The surface area of a human lung is made larger by alveoli and is approximately the size of a?
a. Dinner plate
b. Tablespoon
c. 4-person tent
d. Tennis court

Answer 1

Hint: Lungs are the elastic organ with a large surface area for gas exchange. The largest of all the options which cover a large area will be the answer. Lungs are one of the largest organs in our body covering a total length of 50 to 75 sq meters. It is actually less than half the size of a single high court.

Complete answer:
> Option A:
A dinner plate is having less area covered compared to lungs and hence due to limited area cover it can’t be compared to a size of lung. Thus, it is an inappropriate choice.

> Option B:
A table spoon is the least area and can be of size only a circular cell. Hence it will be a false statement.

> Option C:
4-person tent is only limited to some context either of length or breadth. Hence, it will be inappropriate too.

> Option D:
A tennis court surface area will be the same to the approx. 300 million alveoli present in the human lungs. The internal surface area is provided by the alveoli. Thus, it is the correct choice.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Additional information:
Alveoli are tiny sacs in your lungs that take up the oxygen and act as the workhorses for the respiratory system. Alveoli are usually made by the epithelial cells.

Note: The lungs are paired, large and spongy organs present in the thoracic cavity. Lungs are divided into left and right lungs with different lobes having 3 lobes on the right side and 2 lobes on the left side. Lungs are all made up of elastic fiber and air tissues making it a spongy, elastic organ with a large surface area for gaseous exchange. The bronchial branches inside the lungs helps in the formation of tiny clusters of air sacs known as alveoli.