Vetinerary Assistant Practice Exam

What is the function of the respiratory system?

1. To regulate body temperature

2. To exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide in the bloodstream

3. To facilitate digestion in the body

4. To produce hormones for metabolic processes

The correct answer is: To exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide in the bloodstream

The function of the respiratory system is to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. This process, known as respiration, is critical for maintaining the body’s metabolic needs. Inhalation brings oxygen into the lungs, where it diffuses through the alveoli into the bloodstream, allowing it to be transported to cells throughout the body. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, moves from the blood into the lungs and is expelled from the body during exhalation. The respiratory system plays a vital role in ensuring that the body receives the oxygen necessary for energy production in cells while also helping to remove carbon dioxide, which, if accumulated, can lead to acid-base imbalances and respiratory issues. While regulating body temperature, facilitating digestion, and producing hormones are important physiological processes, they are not primary functions of the respiratory system. Instead, these functions are associated with other body systems, such as the integumentary system for temperature regulation, the digestive system for digestion, and the endocrine system for hormone production.