Both breathing and respiration are required for all living organisms. Generally, breathing and respiration are often considered the same. However, there is a great difference between these two words.
Breathing is a constant process where you breathe in and out constantly through out the day. It is a process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.
Respiration is a process where the body breaks down the oxygen, so that the cells in the body can use it. It is a part of metabolic process also known as catabolic process of a cellular activity where energy molecule is released while carbon dioxide and water are produced.
Breathing is a physical process and respiration is a chemical process. Breathing is a process of taking oxygen into the lungs while respiration is taking the oxygen from the lungs into the blood stream or to the cells.
Breathing is an exchange of gases between cells and the external environment whereas respiration is a process that takes place in the cells. Breathing involves two stages — ventilation and gas exchange. Ventilation is the movement of air in and out of lungs and gas exchange is the absorption of oxygen from the lungs and release of carbon dioxide. Respiration involves only one process that produces energy and eliminates carbon dioxide and H2O in the blood stream or cells.
In terms of the action, breathing is a voluntary action and respiration is an involuntary action. Respiration is an active and mechanical process that involves the conversion of chemical energy into other forms of energy and breathing has no action or conversion involved.
Breathing can be controlled whereas respiration cannot be controlled. For instance, one can able take a deep and shallow or fast and slow breaths. Since respiration takes places in the cells and tissues, it cannot be controlled like breathing.
Though breathing and respiration are two different processes, these two words are being used interchangeably by many people. When a person is given oxygen artificially, it refers to ‘artificial breathing’ not ‘artificial respiration’. Breathing is sometimes called as ‘external respiration’ and respiration is referred to as internal or cellular respiration.
Summary:
Breathing: taking air in (inspiration) and out of your lungs (expiration); can be consciously controlled (voluntary action)
Respiration:Â part of a metabolic process; cellular activity;Â end products are energy molecules, carbon dioxide and water; cannot be consciously controlled (involuntary action)
Books related to respiration and breathing.