Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe, but interestingly, it doesn’t play an active role in our body’s metabolic processes. When we inhale, we take in a mixture of gases, primarily oxygen and nitrogen. The nitrogen we breathe is largely inert, meaning that our body does not use it for energy production or other metabolic functions.
Once inhaled, nitrogen travels into our lungs, where it diffuses into the bloodstream. However, since it is not utilized by our cells, it simply remains dissolved in the blood plasma. When we exhale, the nitrogen is released back into the atmosphere. This is a passive process that occurs as we breathe in and out, ensuring that we do not accumulate nitrogen in our bodies.
Interestingly, while nitrogen itself is not used by our bodies, it is crucial for the environment and for various biological processes. It is an essential component of amino acids and nucleic acids, which makes it fundamental for life. It is primarily fixed in the environment by certain bacteria and converted into forms that plants can use.