Composition of air

Composition of air

Every part of the body needs oxygen to survive and function including digesting food and moving muscles.

The respiratory system is made up primarily of our airways and lungs and we breathe in and out spontaneously if there is air to breathe and the airways are open.

Respiration enables the body to get the oxygen needed and eliminates carbon dioxide which is a waste product produced as part of this process.

The air we breathe in consists of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% argon and other gases.

Due to our body having used some of the oxygen and producing carbon dioxide as a waste product, the air we breathe out has a slightly lower oxygen level and higher carbon dioxide level.