Final answer:
The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and helps to eliminate carbon dioxide, functioning closely with the circulatory system to exchange gases needed for cellular respiration and maintaining homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The respiratory system is the organ system responsible for the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide. The primary method by which this system operates is through respiration, a process that involves the respiratory and circulatory systems working together to facilitate gas exchange.
Oxygen from inhaled air is transferred to the blood in the lungs, and carbon dioxide is absorbed from the blood and then exhaled. Every cell in the body utilizes this oxygen to perform oxidative phosphorylation, a critical step in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy carrier for cellular functions.
The circulatory system is integral to this process as it moves oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to body tissues, and returns carbon dioxide-laden blood back to the lungs for excretion.
This exchange is vital for maintaining homeostasis and efficient cellular metabolism. Diseases like asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstruction pulmonary disorder (COPD) can disrupt this vital exchange, leading to serious health problems.