In the circle breathing system, which component houses the absorbent that removes CO2?

• A. Ventilator Controls
• B. Ventilator Bellows
• C. Oxygen Flush Valve
• D. CO2 Absorber

Answer: (D)

In the circle breathing system, CO2 removal is handled by a dedicated component that contains the reactive absorbent. This CO2 absorber canister sits in the breathing circuit so that exhaled gas passes through the absorbent material (commonly soda lime) and CO2 is chemically removed before the gas is rebreathed on the next inhalation. The absorbent’s job is to scrub CO2 from the circuit, preventing buildup and maintaining safe levels of end-tidal CO2.

The other components don’t serve this function. Ventilator controls manage settings for delivering gas, and ventilator bellows drive the gas flow; they don’t chemically remove CO2. The oxygen flush valve delivers high-flow oxygen directly into the circuit and bypasses the absorber, so it does not remove CO2 either.