What is residual air: Have you ever wondered what happens to your lungs after you exhale? That’s where residual air comes in. Residual air is the air that remains in your lungs even after you exhale completely. It’s important because it keeps your lungs inflated and prevents them from collapsing.
When you breathe in, your lungs fill up with air. When you breathe out, you push some of that air out, but not all of it. The air that stays behind is called residual air. It helps maintain a constant pressure in your lungs, which is necessary for them to function properly.
Residual air also plays a role in gas exchange. Even after you exhale, there is still some oxygen in your residual air. This oxygen continues to be absorbed into your bloodstream, while carbon dioxide is released from your bloodstream into the residual air to be exhaled.
So, even though you might not think about it, residual air is an important part of the breathing process. It ensures that your lungs stay healthy and functional, allowing you to breathe efficiently without having to consciously think about it.