Which of the following terms best describes inhalation and exhalation of air?

The term that best describes the inhalation and exhalation of air is respiration. This process encompasses the physiological exchange of gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide, between the body and the environment. Inhalation refers to the action of bringing air into the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream, while exhalation is the process of expelling carbon dioxide-rich air from the lungs. Respiration is essential for maintaining the body’s metabolic processes and is a fundamental function for sustaining life.

In contrast, retention refers to holding onto a substance and is not indicative of the cyclical nature of breathing. Prognosis is a term used in medicine to indicate the likely course or outcome of a disease, and it has no direct connection to the process of breathing. Restriction implies limitation or reduction, which does not accurately describe the natural and rhythmic actions of inhalation and exhalation. Thus, respiration encompasses both inhalation and exhalation and is the most suitable term in this context.