What is the inhalation and exhalation of air commonly referred to as?

The inhalation and exhalation of air is commonly referred to as ventilation. Ventilation specifically refers to the physical process of moving air in and out of the lungs, allowing for gas exchange. This process is crucial as it facilitates the intake of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body.

Respiration, on the other hand, encompasses a broader physiological process that includes not only the mechanical act of breathing (ventilation) but also the biochemical processes that occur in cells for producing energy from oxygen. It involves the exchange of gases at the alveoli in the lungs and at the cellular level in the tissues.

Therefore, while respiration involves ventilation, the term used to describe the inhalation and exhalation itself is ventilation, making it the most accurate choice in this context.