Oxygen-Review.com states that oxygen plays an important role in the body’s breathing and metabolic processes. It is absorbed by the blood stream in the lungs and transported to the cells where a change process occurs.
Cells contain nutrient compounds that are oxidized through complex enzymatic processes, according to Oxygen-Review.com. Oxidation is the source of energy for humans and most animals, particularly mammals. The body takes in oxygen through inhalation, after which oxygen diffuses through membranes and into red blood cells. The body eliminates carbon dioxide and water, which are the products of oxidation, through the lungs. Adequate oxygen levels are necessary to support cell respiration. Moreover, oxygen is essential in the energy metabolism of living organisms, which is the process of physical and chemical change that occurs continually in the body. It involves building new tissue, replacing old tissue, converting food to energy and disposing of waste materials.
According to KidsHealth.com, oxygen is the most essential gas that the body needs for energy and growth. Without it, cells would die. Respiration is the process of exchanging oxygen from the air for carbon dioxide from the cells. The respiratory system filters out pollutants to ensure that the body obtains clean air.