Urooj Niazi 
Knowledge of the difference between breathing and respiration is vital to students, learners of biology, and other interested people who strive to understand the functionality of the human body. The two terms are mostly used interchangeably yet they are two totally different processes. Breathing is a physical, mechanical process whereas the process of respiration is a biochemical, cellular process. Once you have known the real distinction between breathing and respiration, then it would not be difficult to know how the body takes in the oxygen and transforms it into usable energy. The article is articulate, with key comparisons, and examples that point out the key difference between breathing and respiration in layman terms.
What Is Breathing?
The physical process of breathing in of oxygen and breathing of carbon dioxide is breathing. It is external, a mechanical stimulus performed by the lungs through the aid of the intercostal and the diaphragm muscles. The breathing is important to make sure that the lungs receive fresh air and the body has enough oxygen to survive. It is an activity both voluntary and involuntary, and, that is, you can regulate your breathing, but your body also does this on its own. When one learns the distinction between breathing and respiration, he or she must learn that breathing in itself does not give energy, but merely causes air to enter and to be moved in and out of the body.
What Is Respiration?
Respiration is the biochemical process through which cells dismantle glucose in the presence of oxygen in order to generate energy. It is an internal and chemical process that occurs within any living cell. Respiration is not something a person can deliberately do since it is an automatic metabolic process. The main reason why the respiration takes place is the release of energy in the form of ATP which the body consumes in all the necessary activities like movement, growth, repair, and body temperature. In case of a comparison between the difference between breathing and respiration, the energy-producing step is always respiration, but not breathing, which is the air-exchange step.
Major Difference Between Breathing and Respiration
The greatest distinction between breathing and respiration is in the functionality of the processes and their achievement. The mere circulation of air is known as breathing whereas the production of energy is known as respiration. Breathing and respiration take place in the lungs and inside the cells respectively. Breathing may be rapid or slow according to the activity of the body yet the respiration is continuous and constant since cells always require energy. The other main distinction between breathing and respiration is that, breathing involves the action of muscles, as compared to respiration which involves chemical reactions which are moderated by enzymes. Carbon dioxide is eliminated in the body by breathing and is a by-product of respiration. This difference between breathing and respiration will enable the learners to understand how systems of the body interact with one another.
Why the Difference Between Breathing and Respiration Matters?
It is a good idea to know the distinction between breathing and respiration, not just in academic terms, but also in the fact of health, fitness, and body functionality. During exercise, you can breathe faster and more deeply in order to enable more oxygen to reach the body and the respiration level will be higher to produce more energy at the cellular level. This correlation indicates the dependence of both processes. Respiration would not take place without the presence of oxygen. In the absence of respiration, breathing will not make any sense. The distinction between breathing and respiration is clearly defined, and it could be of use in understanding the entire illustration of human physiology.
