What is the exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the body known as?

The exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the body is referred to as internal respiration. This process involves the uptake of oxygen by the cells for metabolic processes and the release of carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of cellular respiration.

Internal respiration occurs at the cellular level, where oxygen diffuses from the blood into the body cells, and carbon dioxide, produced by the cells, diffuses back into the bloodstream. This is distinct from external respiration, which encompasses the exchange of gases between the air in the lungs and the blood. Therefore, internal respiration specifically addresses the interactions between circulating blood and the cells, making it the correct term for this process.

Ventilation refers to the mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs, while diffusion is a broader scientific term that describes the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration; it is a mechanism that facilitates both internal and external respiration but does not specifically define the gas exchange that occurs between blood and body cells.