Final answer:
The respiratory system facilitates the exchange of gases between the body and the outside air. It involves inhalation, gas exchange, and exhalation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The respiratory system is responsible for the exchange of gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, between the body and the outside air. The major functions of the respiratory system include:
- Inhalation: Air is taken into the respiratory system through the nose or mouth, and travels down the airways.
- Gas exchange: Oxygen from the inhaled air passes into the bloodstream through the walls of the small air sacs called alveoli in the lungs, while carbon dioxide passes out of the bloodstream into the alveoli.
- Exhalation: Air containing carbon dioxide is expelled from the body through the nose or mouth.
This process is enabled by the forces of breathing, which include the contraction and relaxation of muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall, creating changes in pressure that allow air to move into and out of the lungs.