What does metabolism refer to in biological processes?

Metabolism encompasses all the biochemical processes that occur within living organisms, which includes both the breakdown of molecules to produce energy (catabolic reactions) and the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones (anabolic reactions). This comprehensive definition makes it clear that metabolism is not limited to just energy production, nor is it confined to only catabolic or anabolic pathways. Instead, it represents a complex network of chemical reactions critical for the maintenance of life, growth, and overall functioning of organisms. Therefore, understanding metabolism as the sum of all these reactions allows us to appreciate the dynamic processes that sustain life, making the answer identifying it as all chemical reactions in living organisms the most accurate.