RESPIRATION

It is the process by which the food (glucose) is broken down to release energy. This
process happens in each living cell. Since this occurs in cells it is called cellular
respiration.
There are 2 types of respiration.
AEROBIC and ANAEROBIC
Aerobic respiration requires oxygen. Majority of organisms perform this.
Anaerobic respiration does not require oxygen. Usually seen in certain bacteria.
Yeast can do both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Our muscle cells normally do aerobic respiration, but during vigorous work ,they
may do anaerobic respiration.
The first step of respiration is the breaking of glucose (a 6 carbon compound ) into
pyruvate(a 3 carbon compound). This happens in the cytoplasm of the cell. This
step is common for both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The rest of the steps
are in the chart given below.
 (This reaction is called FERMENTATION)

The energy released during cellular respiration is immediately used to

synthesise a molecule called ATP(Adenosinetriphosphate)which is the energy
currency of the cell. Whenever energy is required, ATP is broken which
releases energy.
RESPIRATION IN PLANTS
• Exchange of gases in plants take place through stomata.
• During daytime, plants take CO2 through stomata and perform photosynthesis and
release O2.
• At night, O2 is not released since photosynthesis does not take place.
• Plants perform both respiration and photosynthesis.
• Respiration occurs all the time (irrespective of day and night) while photosynthesis
occur only in the presence of light.
Terrestrial organisms (organisms living on land ) take O2 from atmosphere while aquatic
organisms like fishes take O2 dissolved in water.
Since the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is fairly low compared to the amount of
oxygen in the air, the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that
seen in terrestrial organisms.
Fishes take in water through their mouths. As this water moves over the gills, the dissolved
oxygen in water is taken up by blood
 HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Respiration in
Humans :-
The main organs of
the respiratory
system are nostrils,
nasal cavity,
pharynx, larynx,
trachea, bronchi,
bronchioles, lungs
and diaphragm.
Air enter through the nostrils. The hairs and
mucus in the nose traps the dust particles. It
then passes through the pharynx larynx, trachea,
bronchi and enters the lungs.
The trachea has rings of cartilage which prevents
it from collapsing when there is no air in the
trachea.
The bronchi divides into smaller tubes called
bronchioles which ends in tiny air sacs called
alveoli.
The alveoli are balloon like structures which
increase its surface area for the exchange of
gases.
The walls of alveoli contain an extensive supply
of blood vessels for quick exchange of gases.
The alveoli walls are thin and moist. This also
helps in gaseous exchange
Mechanism of breathing :-
• Breathing in- Ribs are lifted up- the muscles of the diaphragm contracts-
Diaphragm moves down and flattens - the chest cavity expands - air enters
into the alveoli of lungs.
• Breathing out - Ribs move down-the muscles of the diaphragm relaxes and
moves upward - the chest cavity contracts - air goes out of the lungs.
• In humans, the respiratory pigment is haemoglobin which has a very high
affinity (liking) for oxygen.
• Respiratory pigment (Haemoglobin) take up oxygen from the air in the lungs
and carry it to tissues
• Haemoglobin is present in the red blood corpuscles (RBC)
• Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than oxygen and hence is mostly
transported in the dissolved form in our blood (CO2 is mainly carried through
plasma of blood).

BLOOD COMPONENTS
QUESTIONS

1. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have

with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?
2. What are the different ways in which glucose is broken down to provide
energy in various organisms?
3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?
4. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for
exchange of gases?
5. Name the respiratory pigment in human beings? Where are they present ?
6. Where does exchange of gases take place in our respiratory system?
7. Give the full form of ATP. What is the function of ATP?