The respiratory system functions in gas exchange by bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide. This is accomplished through the process of respiration, which involves breathing in air, exchanging gases in the lungs, and then exhaling. The oxygen is then transported throughout the body via the circulatory system, while carbon dioxide is transported back to the lungs to be exhaled.
The respiratory system functions in gas exchange by bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide. The process occurs through several steps:
Inhalation - air is drawn into the lungs through the nose or mouth, and travels through the trachea and bronchial tubes.
Gas exchange - oxygen diffuses from the air into the bloodstream through the walls of the alveoli, while carbon dioxide diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli.
Exhalation - carbon dioxide is expelled from the lungs through the same pathway as inhalation.
The exchange of gases is facilitated by the large surface area of the alveoli, the thinness of their walls, and the concentration gradient of the gases.
The respiratory system facilitates gas exchange between the body and the external environment. During inhalation, oxygen-rich air enters the lungs and diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli into the bloodstream. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product, diffuses out of the bloodstream and is exhaled during exhalation.