Difference Between Breathing and Respiration

Breathing and respiration are two completely different but interrelated body processes that assist body organs to function properly.  Breathing is the physical process of exchanging gases whilst respiration is a chemical process that takes place at a cellular level and produces energy.  They have many different characteristics and we will learn about them below.  The article focuses on the discussion of the difference between respiration and breathing. A list of comparative analyses is discussed below in the article.

What is Breathing? 

In physiological terms, breathing could be defined as an action of air or water moving across the surface of a respiratory structure such as gills or lungs to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the environment for a process known as respiration. 

How do we Breathe?

The process of breathing starts when a person inhales air through the nose or mouth and it travels down the back of the throat and into the windpipe which is divided into many air passages called the bronchial tubes. The physiological parts involved in breathing are:

• Nose and nasal cavity

• Sinuses

• Mouth

• Throat (pharynx) and voice box (larynx)

• Windpipe (trachea)

• Diaphragm

• Lungs

• Bronchial tubes and bronchioles

• Air sacs (alveoli)

• Capillaries

The bronchial tube further subdivides into smaller air passages called bronchioles. At the end of each bronchiole, there are balloon-like air sacs known as alveoli which are surrounded by blood vessels called the capillaries. It is in the alveoli that inhaled oxygen passes into the blood. The oxygen-rich blood then travels to the heart and then it is pumped out to all the cells, tissues, and organs of the body. The cells use the oxygen and then carbon dioxide is produced which is again absorbed by the blood and travels to the lungs where it is removed from the body as organisms exhale.

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Inhalation and Exhalation

The chest cavity always has a slight negative pressure which keeps the lungs open. When one inhales, the lung volume increases due to the contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles which help in expanding the chest cavity. As the volume increases there is a decrease in pressures within the chest cavity which is less than the atmospheric pressure. The pressure gradient between the chest cavity and the atmospheric pressure allows the air to enter the lungs which is inhalation.

In this process, the chest expands out. It should be noted here that the human lungs are elastic and when the lungs are filled with air the tissues of the lung exerts pressure back towards the interior of the lungs. Both inward and outward forces compete to inflate and deflate the lungs at every breath. As one exhale, the lungs force the air out and the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm relax, which increases the pressure within the chest cavity. The air exits the lungs due to the pressure gradient between the chest cavity and the atmosphere. Exhalation is classified as a passive event since there is no muscle contraction to expel the air.

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What is Respiration?

Respiration could be defined as a biochemical process in which the cell of an organism obtains energy from oxygen and glucose and in turn releases ATP, carbon dioxide, and water. The energy is used for various daily activities such as walking, running, sitting, and almost all bodily processes. It plays a vital role in maintaining the functions of our organ system. Respiration can be classified into two types:

• Aerobic respiration

• Anaerobic respiration

Aerobic Respiration: This process takes place in the presence of oxygen to produce energy. It can be observed in all types of eukaryotic cells.

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Anaerobic Respiration: This process takes place in the absence of oxygen and can generally be observed in human muscles cells, prokaryotes, and methanogens.

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How is respiration different from Breathing?

In general terms, respiration is a chemical process whereas breathing is a chemical process. Both are interrelated but their mechanisms vary. Below we will have a look at the different characteristics between breathing and respiration. 

Respiration vs Breathing

In conclusion of the article, we may deduce from the distinctions that breathing and cellular respiration are two distinct processes that cannot be employed interchangeably. Breathing and respiration are unavoidable involuntary movements. Living creatures require these acts in order to live on this planet. So, it can be concluded that the electrons utilized in the ETS or the electron transport system come from the oxygen from the process of inhalation. Therefore, breathing plays a direct role in cellular respiration.