What is the primary process involved in respiration?

The primary process involved in respiration is breathing, which encompasses the mechanical and biochemical actions that allow organisms to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. During breathing, oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and transported through the bloodstream to cells, where it is used in cellular respiration to produce energy. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, is carried back to the lungs to be exhaled.

Breathing is essential for aerobic respiration, which is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell. Without breathing, aerobic organisms would be unable to obtain the oxygen required for this energy-producing process, leading to a decline in cellular function and ultimately, survival.