What happens to the oxygen utilized by body cells?

The utilization of oxygen by body cells primarily leads to the production of energy through a process called cellular respiration. During this process, cells take in oxygen, which is critical for breaking down glucose and other organic molecules. This breakdown releases energy, which is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP serves as the main energy currency of the cell, enabling various cellular functions, including muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and biochemical reactions.

Oxygen is essential for aerobic respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria of cells. Here, oxygen enables the complete oxidation of glucose, resulting in the efficient production of ATP, water, and carbon dioxide. The resulting ATP is then used by the body for various energy-requiring processes.

While some byproducts of cellular respiration, like carbon dioxide, are expelled by the body, oxygen itself is not a waste product; rather, it is crucial for energy production. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes that the primary role of oxygen in the body is to facilitate energy production within cells.