Which system is responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide?

The respiratory system is primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It includes organs such as the lungs, trachea, and bronchi, which facilitate the inhalation of oxygen-rich air and the exhalation of carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism.

Oxygen is taken into the body through the respiratory system and diffused into the bloodstream in the alveoli of the lungs. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is produced by the body's cells as they metabolize nutrients, is transported back to the lungs and expelled from the body.

While the circulatory system plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the rest of the body, it does not perform the exchange itself. The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, and the nervous system manages bodily functions and responses but is not directly involved in respiratory gas exchange. Thus, the respiratory system is the key system in facilitating this vital exchange.