Does Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide Control Breathing?
It is well-known that oxygen is essential for life. The human body needs oxygen to survive and it is taken into the body through the process of breathing. The question is, does oxygen or carbon dioxide control our breathing?
Oxygen is the main driver of respiration in the human body. Oxygen is taken in through the lungs and then transported to the cells where it is used in the creation of energy. As oxygen levels decrease in the body, the body responds by increasing respiration rate. The body also increases respiration rate when oxygen levels increase in order to expel excess carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a by-product of the breakdown of glucose in the cells. As carbon dioxide levels increase in the body, the body increases respiration rate in order to expel the excess carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide also serves to regulate the acid-base balance in the body.
In conclusion, both oxygen and carbon dioxide play a role in controlling respiration in the human body. Oxygen is the main driver of respiration as it is necessary for the creation of energy, while carbon dioxide increases respiration rate in order to expel excess carbon dioxide and to maintain the acid-base balance in the body.
