Metabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy, such as:
Breathing
Circulating blood
Controlling body temperature
Contracting muscles
Digesting food and nutrients
Eliminating waste through urine and feces
Functioning of the brain and nerves
Shulman GI, Petersen KF. Metabolism. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, eds. Medical Physiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 58.
Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.