Although physiologic respiration is necessary to sustain cellular respiration and thus life in animals, the processes are distinct: cellular respiration takes place in individual cells of the organism, while physiologic respiration concerns the diffusion and transport of metabolites between the organism and the external environment.
Meskipun respirasi fisiologis diperlukan untuk mempertahankan respirasi sel dan dengan demikian hidup pada hewan, proses yang berbeda: respirasi seluler berlangsung di sel-sel individual dari organisme, sedangkan respirasi fisiologis menyangkut aliran massal dan transportasi metabolit antara organisme dan lingkungan eksternal.