Final answer:
Respiration involves ventilation (air movement into and out of the lungs) and gas exchange in the lungs and at the tissue level, relying on diffusion without energy expenditure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option : a
The term respiration refers to the process by which organisms exchange gases with their environment. Specifically, it involves two main processes: ventilation, which is the movement of air into and out of the lungs, and gas exchange, occurring in the lungs and at the tissue level. External respiration happens at the alveoli in the lungs where oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is expelled. Internal respiration, on the other hand, occurs in tissues where oxygen is used by cells and carbon dioxide, a metabolic waste, is produced and transferred into the blood.
Different organisms have specialized organs for respiration, such as gills in aquatic animals, lungs in mammals, and book lungs in certain arthropods like spiders. The actual gas exchange process relies on diffusion along pressure gradients, not requiring energy for the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide across membranes. The efficient anatomy of these respiratory organs ensures a high surface area for gas exchange, ensuring that the body’s cells receive sufficient oxygen and can eliminate carbon dioxide effectively, maintaining homeostasis.