What gas does the human respiratory system remove from the body?

The human respiratory system is primarily responsible for the exchange of gases that occur in the lungs. One of its main functions is to remove carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from the body. During respiration, oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and subsequently transported to the bloodstream to be delivered to cells for energy production. In turn, carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct of this energy production and is transported back to the lungs, where it is expelled from the body when we exhale.

Identifying carbon dioxide as the gas removed from the body highlights the critical role of the respiratory system in maintaining acid-base balance and ensuring that the body can efficiently conduct cellular respiration.