What term describes the process of transporting oxygen and other nutrients to the tissues in the body?

The term that best describes the process of transporting oxygen and other nutrients to the tissues in the body is circulation. This process is critical for maintaining the health and function of cells and tissues throughout the body. Circulation involves the movement of blood, which carries oxygen bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells, as well as nutrients absorbed from the digestive tract. This ensures that all the cells in the body receive the necessary substances to perform their metabolic functions.

In contrast, respiration refers to the biochemical process of converting oxygen and glucose into energy, involving the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) primarily in the lungs. Diffusion is a more general term that describes the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, which can occur at the cellular level but does not encompass the systemic transport of blood and nutrients. Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions in the body, including catabolism and anabolism, but it does not specifically focus on the transport of substances through the circulatory system. Thus, circulation is the most accurate and specific term for the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues.