Which organ is primarily involved in oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange?

The lungs are the organs primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. They facilitate this process through tiny air sacs called alveoli, where oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. This gas exchange is vital for maintaining proper oxygen levels in the blood and removing carbon dioxide, which is crucial for overall respiratory and metabolic function.

Other organs, while important for various body functions, do not perform this specific task. The liver plays a key role in metabolism and detoxification, the heart is primarily involved in pumping blood throughout the body, and the kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and maintaining fluid balance but do not participate directly in gas exchange. Thus, the lungs are uniquely suited for this essential physiological process.