What do the lungs provide the blood?

The lungs provide the blood with oxygen and facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide. In the alveoli, oxygen from inhaled air diffuses into the bloodstream, where it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, is expelled from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. This exchange is crucial for maintaining the body's respiratory and metabolic functions.