Question

Which of the following describes the primary function of the respiratory system?

A) to create sound and speech

B) to take oxygen into the body while removing carbon dioxide

C) to transport nutrients to the cells and tissue of the body

D) to act as a barrier between the body's organs and outside influences

Answer 1

The respiratory system's main role is to provide oxygen for cellular respiration and remove carbon dioxide from the body through the breathing process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary function of the respiratory system is to exchange gases with the environment, essentially providing oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide, a byproduct of cellular respiration. This critical process occurs as air is inhaled into the nasal cavity, flows through the trachea, and reaches the lungs where the alveoli facilitate the actual gas exchange. Oxygen enters the bloodstream where it is transported to cells throughout the body, and carbon dioxide is expelled from the bloodstream into the lungs and released back into the environment through exhalation.