As a respiratory physiologist, I specialize in the study of the respiratory system and its role in maintaining homeostasis within the body. One of the key functions of the respiratory system is to regulate the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Here's how the body gets rid of carbon dioxide:


1. Cellular Respiration: The process begins at the cellular level where carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product of cellular respiration.

2. Diffusion: CO2 diffuses out of the cells into the blood, where it is transported, primarily in the form of bicarbonate (HCO3-), but also as dissolved CO2 and carbaminohemoglobin (where CO2 binds to hemoglobin).

3. Blood Circulation: The blood, now carrying CO2, is pumped by the heart to the lungs.

4. Gas Exchange in Lungs: In the lungs, CO2 moves from the blood into the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs) by diffusion across the thin walls of the alveoli and the surrounding capillaries.

5. Exhalation: The CO2-rich air in the alveoli is then expelled from the body through the process of exhalation.

It's important to note that the body has a natural mechanism to maintain the balance of gases, and under normal circumstances, it does not require any external intervention to remove carbon dioxide.

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Excess carbon dioxide must be removed from the body to stop it reaching toxic levels. As the blood flows through the lungs, excess carbon dioxide passes out of the blood and into the alveoli by diffusion. It is then removed from the lungs when we exhale (breathe out).read more >>