Answer:
Respiration refers to the biological process by which living organisms, including humans, take in oxygen from the environment and release carbon dioxide as a waste product. It's a crucial process for obtaining energy from nutrients and maintaining the body's functions. Respiration can be broadly categorized into two types:
1. **External Respiration:** This is the exchange of gases between the organism and its environment. In humans, it involves the inhalation of oxygen-rich air into the lungs and the exhalation of carbon dioxide-rich air out of the lungs.
2. **Internal Respiration:** This refers to the exchange of gases between the bloodstream and the body's cells. Oxygen is transported by red blood cells from the lungs to the tissues, where it is used for various metabolic processes. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of these processes, is carried by the blood back to the lungs to be exhaled.
The term "respiration" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "breathing," which specifically refers to the physical act of inhaling and exhaling air. However, respiration encompasses a broader set of processes involving gas exchange, energy production, and waste elimination at the cellular level.
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