We inhale O2 and exhale CO2, so does that mean we just add carbon and exhale the same oxygen we just inhaled? Why cant we just exhale carbon?
In: Biology
We inhale O2 and send it to the cells via blood. Cells use it to carry out some chemical reactions along with the carbon we have eaten – as food (which is also bought to the cells by blood only). The CO2 is a gaseous byproduct (along with other byproducts) of that reaction and needs to be expelled out. Blood carries this CO2 to the lungs and exchange it with the fresh O2 from outside – in the lungs. Lungs are just an exchange area – where two items are swapped. Other byproducts are carried by blood to other organs for disposal – mainly kidneys.
Latest Answers