What is the process that involves moving oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and cells?

The process that moves oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and cells is respiration. This term encompasses not just the act of breathing, but also the cellular processes where oxygen is utilized, and carbon dioxide is produced and expelled. In the context of respiration, gas exchange occurs in the lungs, where oxygen is inhaled into the alveoli and passes into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the lungs to be exhaled.

While circulation is vital for transporting these gases throughout the body, it does not directly refer to the exchange process. Diffusion describes the mechanism that allows gases to move, primarily from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration but doesn't encompass the whole concept of respiration. Exhalation refers specifically to the act of expelling air from the lungs, which is a component of the respiratory cycle but does not capture the broader process of gas exchange at the cellular level. Therefore, respiration is the most comprehensive term that accurately represents the entire process of moving oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and cells.