What term refers to the sum of all chemical processes occurring in the body?

The term that refers to the sum of all chemical processes occurring in the body is metabolism. Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions, including those that break down nutrients to produce energy (catabolism) and those that use energy to build cellular components (anabolism). It is a crucial concept in both anatomy and physiology as it ties together how organisms derive energy from food, how they utilize that energy for growth and maintenance, and how they regulate these processes to adapt to different environmental and physiological conditions.

Homeostasis, although essential, specifically refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions, rather than the chemical processes involved. Cycling is not a term commonly used in this context within physiology, and transportation generally refers to the movement of substances across membranes or throughout the circulatory system. Thus, metabolism is the most accurate term for the overall chemical processes in the body.