Gases We Breathe Out
During the process of exhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax which reduces the space in the chest cavity. As the chest cavity becomes smaller, the lungs deflate, which can be related to the release of air from a balloon. Due to this carbon dioxide-rich air flows out of the lungs through the windpipe and finally gets out of the nose or mouth.
The composition of exhaled air is approximately 79% nitrogen, 16% oxygen, 4% carbon dioxide, saturated with water vapor, and trace gases in the same percentages as were inhaled.
Also Read: Inspiration and Expiration
Carbon Dioxide and Gas Exchange
Carbon dioxide, though often considered a waste product, plays a crucial role in maintaining the body’s acid-base balance. Excess carbon dioxide is transported back to the lungs via the bloodstream. In the lungs, it is released into the alveoli and then expelled during exhalation. This process ensures that the pH of the blood remains within a narrow and optimal range, preventing acidosis or alkalosis, which can have detrimental effects on cellular function.
Gasses We Breathe In and Breathe Out | Composition of Air
The gases we breathe in and breathe out do not only include oxygen and carbon dioxide respectively rather they include many more gases that compose the air. When we breathe, the air inhaled contains around 79% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.03% carbon dioxide, and other gases.
However, only oxygen is absorbed by the blood and taken to the body parts. When we breathe out, the exhaled air contains 16.4% oxygen, 4.4 % carbon dioxide, 79% nitrogen, and the rest water vapour. In this article, we will study the composition of air- the inhaled and exhaled air, the gases we breathe in, the gases we breathe out, and how respiratory health is related to the gases.
Table of Content
- Composition of Air
- Composition of Inhaled Air and Exhaled Air
- Gases We Breathe In
- Gases We Breathe Out
- Gases and Respiratory Health
- Conclusion: Gases We Breathe In and Breathe Out