Why does exhaled air still contain oxygen?
Exhaled air still contains oxygen because our respiratory system does not extract all of the oxygen from each breath. When we inhale, oxygen from the air is drawn into our lungs, where it diffuses into the bloodstream and binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells. These oxygen-filled blood cells then travel to various tissues and organs in our body, releasing oxygen for use in cellular respiration.
During cellular respiration, oxygen is used by cells to break down glucose and produce energy. However, not all of the oxygen is consumed completely in this process. Some of it remains in the bloodstream and is transported back to the lungs during the exhaling process.
In addition to the unused oxygen, exhaled air also contains other gases like carbon dioxide. During cellular respiration, glucose is metabolized, producing carbon dioxide as a waste product. The carbon dioxide diffuses out of the cells into the bloodstream and is carried back to the lungs, where it is then exhaled.
It’s important to note that the concentration of oxygen in exhaled air is significantly lower compared to inhaled air. When we inhale, the air we breathe in typically contains around 21% oxygen, while the exhaled air contains approximately 16% oxygen, due to some of it being utilized during respiration.
In summary, exhaled air still contains oxygen because our bodies do not utilize all of the oxygen we inhale. Some of it remains in the bloodstream to be transported back to the lungs and exhaled, along with other waste gases like carbon dioxide.
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