Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

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What is the term for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level?

  1. Oxygen diffusion

  2. Circulation

  3. Respiration

  4. Ventilation

The correct answer is: Respiration

The term that describes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level is respiration. This process occurs in the mitochondria of cells, where oxygen is used to produce energy through a process known as cellular respiration, and carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product. Respiration is a crucial physiological process that enables cells to generate the energy needed for various functions. In contrast to respiration, ventilation refers to the mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Circulation pertains to the movement of blood throughout the body, which is essential for transporting gases but does not directly describe the gas exchange at the cellular level. Oxygen diffusion specifically relates to the movement of oxygen from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration, which is a part of the broader respiration process but does not capture the full exchange of gases that occurs within cells. Thus, respiration is the most accurate term for the cellular exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.