Respiratory system: juxtacapillary receptors: practice question

A Physiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Physiology · Respiratory system: juxtacapillary receptors

Sample item

A patient with acute left heart failure feels short of breath with rapid shallow breathing. Which receptors, lying in the alveolar walls near the capillaries and stimulated by interstitial fluid, contribute to this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Juxtacapillary (J) receptors

J receptors are C-fibre endings in the alveolar interstitium next to the capillaries. They are stimulated by pulmonary congestion, oedema and some chemicals, and cause rapid shallow breathing and a sensation of dyspnoea via vagal afferents.

Option by option

  • A. Slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors

    Slowly adapting stretch receptors lie in airway smooth muscle and mediate the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex.

  • B. Juxtacapillary (J) receptors (correct)

    Correct. J receptors respond to interstitial fluid and cause dyspnoea.

  • C. Rapidly adapting irritant receptors

    Rapidly adapting irritant receptors lie in the airway epithelium and cause cough and bronchoconstriction.

  • D. Central chemoreceptors

    Central chemoreceptors lie in the medulla and respond to hydrogen ion changes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is B, Juxtacapillary (J) receptors. J receptors are C-fibre endings in the alveolar interstitium next to the capillaries.

Why is "Slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors" not the answer?

Slowly adapting stretch receptors lie in airway smooth muscle and mediate the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex.

Why is "Rapidly adapting irritant receptors" not the answer?

Rapidly adapting irritant receptors lie in the airway epithelium and cause cough and bronchoconstriction.

Why is "Central chemoreceptors" not the answer?

Central chemoreceptors lie in the medulla and respond to hydrogen ion changes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory system: juxtacapillary receptors in Physiology. They are stimulated by pulmonary congestion, oedema and some chemicals, and cause rapid shallow breathing and a sensation of dyspnoea via vagal afferents.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Respiratory system: juxtacapillary receptors?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.