North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the North Carolina EMT State Exam with interactive quizzes and comprehensive explanations. Master your skills and gain confidence by reviewing key topics before test day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Chemoreceptors in the body primarily monitor which of the following?

Heart rate and blood pressure
Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
Body temperature and pH levels
Blood glucose and electrolyte levels

The correct answer is: Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

Chemoreceptors play a crucial role in monitoring the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, which is vital for maintaining homeostasis and ensuring proper respiratory function. These specialized sensory receptors detect changes in chemical concentrations, particularly in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. When carbon dioxide levels rise, it results in decreased pH, triggering an increase in respiratory rate to expel CO2 and bring in oxygen. Conversely, if oxygen levels drop, chemoreceptors signal the body to increase respiratory effort to enhance oxygen intake. This monitoring is essential for the body’s overall metabolic balance and response to various physiological demands. This is why the answer focusing on oxygen and carbon dioxide levels is accurate, as it directly addresses the primary function of chemoreceptors in regulating respiratory drive and maintaining respiratory homeostasis. Other options pertain to different physiological processes or systems and are not related to the primary function of chemoreceptors.