Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The correct answer is the lungs, as they play a crucial role in the elimination of excess nitrogen from the body, particularly in the context of hyperbaric medicine. When a person breathes in, oxygen and nitrogen are inhaled. Under increased pressure in a hyperbaric environment, nitrogen becomes more soluble in the body's tissues, and if the pressure is reduced too quickly, this can lead to nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream, known as decompression sickness.

The lungs facilitate the removal of dissolved nitrogen by allowing it to be exhaled. During normal respiration, the lungs expel carbon dioxide and also eliminate excess nitrogen gas. This exchange helps to maintain a proper balance of gases in the body. Thus, the lungs are the primary organ responsible for nitrogen elimination, particularly in situations where there is a higher level of nitrogen absorption due to environmental conditions such as hyperbaric therapy.

The other organs mentioned, while they have their specific functions in metabolism and waste elimination, do not primarily focus on the expulsion of nitrogen in the way the lungs do. The heart circulates blood, the liver processes nutrients and detoxifies substances, and the kidneys filter blood and produce urine, but they do not exhale gases directly from the bloodstream.