Kussmaul's breathing is characterized by which of the following?

Kussmaul's breathing is identified by an increased respiratory rate and depth with an irregular rhythm. This type of breathing is often associated with metabolic acidosis, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, where the body attempts to compensate for the acid-base imbalance by increasing ventilation. The deep, labored breaths reflect the body's effort to expel carbon dioxide and normalize blood pH levels.

In contrast, other breathing patterns listed do not correctly define Kussmaul's breathing. Deep and regular breaths typically refer to controlled, steady breathing patterns seen in various normal scenarios or in different forms of respiratory distress. Rapid shallow breaths suggest a different condition, such as anxiety or hypoxia, where the patient breathes quickly but not deeply. Long pauses between breaths could describe certain types of apneas or irregular breathing patterns but do not fit the characteristics of Kussmaul's breathing. Thus, the distinguishing features of increased respiratory rate and depth with an irregular rhythm align exactly with the characteristics of Kussmaul's breathing.