Question

How do the lungs get rid of all the CO2 they've picked up from the blood?

Answer 1

The lungs remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body by a process known as respiration. During respiration, oxygen is taken into the body and exchanged for carbon dioxide, which is then expelled from the body through exhalation.

Here's how it works:

1. Oxygen is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth and nose, and passes through the windpipe (trachea) into the lungs.

2. Oxygen then diffuses across the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs and enters the bloodstream, where it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells.

3. At the same time, carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses across the walls of the capillaries surrounding the air sacs and into the air spaces of the lungs.

4. When we exhale, the air containing carbon dioxide is pushed out of the lungs and expelled through the nose and mouth.

The process of respiration is controlled by the respiratory center in the brainstem, which monitors the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and adjusts the rate and depth of breathing as needed to maintain the proper balance.

Overall, the lungs play a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the body and maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Answer 2

Answer: The lungs get rid of carbon dioxide picked up from the blood through a process called pulmonary gas exchange. During this process, carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the alveoli of the lungs to be expelled from the body during exhalation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The human body produces carbon dioxide as a waste product of cellular metabolism. Carbon dioxide is transported through the bloodstream from the cells to the lungs, where it is expelled from the body during exhalation. This process is essential to maintain a proper balance of gases in the body and prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide, which can lead to a dangerous condition called hypercapnia.