How do the circulatory system and the respiratory system work together to control the process of gas exchange?

The circulatory system and the respiratory system work together to control the process of gas exchange in the following ways:

1. Inhalation: The process begins when we inhale air through our nose or mouth. The air travels down the trachea and into the bronchi, which are the main passageways into the lungs.

2. Gas Exchange in the Lungs: The bronchi branch into smaller tubes called bronchioles, which end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. It is in these alveoli where the actual gas exchange occurs. Oxygen from the inhaled air passes through the thin walls of the alveoli and into the bloodstream.

3. Transportation of Oxygen: The oxygen-rich blood is then carried from the lungs to the heart by the pulmonary veins. The heart pumps this oxygenated blood to the rest of the body via the circulatory system.

4. Cellular Respiration: Once the oxygen reaches the body's cells, it is used for cellular respiration, a process in which cells produce energy by combining oxygen with glucose. This process produces carbon dioxide as a waste product.

5. Transportation of Carbon Dioxide: The carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of cellular respiration, is carried back to the lungs by the blood. This is done via the circulatory system, with the heart pumping the carbon dioxide-rich blood back to the lungs.

6. Exhalation: Once the blood reaches the lungs, the carbon dioxide passes from the blood, through the walls of the alveoli,