In terms of body functions, what role does the process of metabolism play?

The process of metabolism plays a crucial role in converting the nutrients obtained from food into energy. This energy is vital for all bodily functions, including growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues. Metabolism encompasses two primary processes: catabolism, which breaks down organic matter to produce energy, and anabolism, which uses energy to construct components of cells like proteins and nucleic acids.

By effectively converting nutrients into usable energy, metabolism supports vital processes such as muscle contraction, cellular repair, and the synthesis of hormones. This transformation is essential for sustaining life, as it ensures that the body has the necessary energy to function properly and respond to various physiological demands. Other options listed—regulating body temperature, maintaining fluid balance, and facilitating immune responses—are important functions, but they are not the primary role of metabolism itself. Instead, those functions may rely on the energy produced through metabolic processes to occur effectively.