Which term describes the process of inhaling and exhaling in the respiratory system?

The term that accurately describes the process of inhaling and exhaling in the respiratory system is respiration. This process involves two primary phases: inhalation (the intake of air into the lungs) and exhalation (the expulsion of air from the lungs). During inhalation, oxygen is brought into the body, where it is then exchanged for carbon dioxide in the alveoli of the lungs. Exhalation removes carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from the body.

Understanding respiration is crucial because it encompasses not only the mechanical act of breathing but also the physiological processes that facilitate gas exchange within the body. The other terms listed do not describe the process of breathing. Oxygenation refers specifically to the addition of oxygen to the blood, not the physical act of breathing. Articulation relates to the production of speech sounds and is not related to the respiratory process itself. Diffusion describes the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, which occurs at the level of alveoli during gas exchange but does not encompass the entire breathing process. Thus, respiration accurately captures the complete cycle of inhaling and exhaling.