Question

The brain is capable of surviving for ___ to ___ minutes only without oxygen.

A) 2 to 5
B) 6 to 8
C) 10 to 15
D) 20 to 25

Answer 1

The brain can survive for a very short period without oxygen, likely facing significant brain damage within 5 minutes and death within 10 minutes, making option A) 2 to 5 minutes the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The brain can survive for only a limited amount of time without oxygen. Brain cells are extremely sensitive to oxygen depletion due to their high and constant demand for ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, which necessitates oxygen. If the brain is deprived of oxygen, irreversible brain damage is likely to occur within 5 minutes, and death is probable within 10 minutes.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'The brain is capable of surviving for ___ to ___ minutes only without oxygen' would be A) 2 to 5 minutes, as this timeframe represents the critical period before brain damage becomes likely. Nonetheless, in certain exceptional circumstances, such as cold-water drownings, brain cells might survive without oxygen for a slightly longer period. However, such cases are outliers and should not be considered the norm.