What is the role of oxygen in the respiration process?

Oxygen provides energy to cells during respiration. As you have read earlier, oxygen (O₂) is utilised by the organisms to indirectly break down simple molecules like glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, etc., to derive energy to perform various activities. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is harmful is also released during the above catabolic reactions. It is, therefore, evident that O₂ has to be continuously provided to the cells and CO₂ produced by the cells have to be released out. This process of exchange of O₂ from the atmosphere with CO₂ produced by the cells is called breathing, commonly known as respiration. Place your hands on your chest; you can feel the chest moving up and down. You know that it is due to breathing. How do we breathe? The respiratory organs and the mechanism of breathing are described in the following sections of this chapter.