RESPIRATION

Types of respiration, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, human respiratory system, respiration in
plants.

Respiration: The process, by which a living being utilizes the food to get energy, is called
respiration. Respiration is an oxidation reaction in which carbohydrate is oxidized to produce
energy. Mitochondria are the site of respiration and the energy released is stored in the form of
ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is stored in mitochondria and is released as per need.

Steps of respiration:

 Breaking down of glucose into pyruvate: This step happens in the cytoplasm. Glucose
molecule is broken down into pyruvic acid. Glucose molecule is composed of 6 carbon
atoms, while pyruvic acid is composed of 3 carbon atoms.
 Fate of Pyruvic Acid: Further breaking down of pyruvic acid takes place in mitochondria
and the molecules formed depend on the type of respiration in a particular organism.
Respiration is of two types, viz. aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
 Respiration involves

 Gaseous exchange: Intake of oxygen from the atmosphere and release of CO 2 →

Breathing.
 Breakdown of simple food in order to release energy inside the cell → Cellular
respiration

Types of Respiration

 Aerobic respiration: This type of respiration happens in the presence of oxygen. Pyruvic
acid is converted into carbon dioxide. Energy is released and water molecule is also
formed at the end of this process.
 Anaerobic respiration: This type of respiration happens in the absence of oxygen.
Pyruvic acid is either converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid. Ethyl alcohol is usually
formed in case of anaerobic respiration in microbes, like yeast or bacteria. Lactic acid is
formed in some microbes as well as in the muscle cells.

 Glucose (6 carbon molecule) → Pyruvate (3 carbon molecules) + Energy

 Pyruvate (In yeast, lack of O2) → Ethyl alcohol + Carbon dioxide + Energy
 Pyruvate (In muscles, lack of O2) → Lactic Acid + Energy
 Pyruvate (In mitochondria; the presence of O2) → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

The equations for the above reactions can be written as follows:

Pain in leg muscles while running:

 When someone runs too fast, he may experience throbbing pain in the leg muscles. This
happens because of anaerobic respiration taking place in the muscles.
 During running, the energy demand from the muscle cells increases. This is compensated
by anaerobic respiration and lactic acid is formed in the process.
 The deposition of lactic acid causes pain in the leg muscles. The pain subsides after taking
rest for some time.
Exchange of gases:

 For aerobic respiration, organisms need a continuous supply of oxygen, and carbon
dioxide produced during the process needs to be removed from the body.
 Different organisms use different methods for the intake of oxygen and expulsion of
carbon dioxide.
 Diffusion is the method which is utilized by unicellular and some simple organisms for
this purpose.
 In plants also, diffusion is utilized for exchange of gases.
 In complex animals, respiratory system does the job of exchange of gases.
 Gills are the respiratory organs for fishes. Fishes take in oxygen which is dissolved in
water through gills.
 Since, availability of oxygen is less in the aquatic environment, so the breathing rate of
aquatic organisms is faster.
 Insects have a system of spiracles and trachease which is used for taking in oxygen.
 Terrestrial organisms have developed lungs for exchange of gases.
 Availability of oxygen is not a problem in the terrestrial environment so breathing rate is
slower as compared to what it is in fishes.

Terrestrial organisms: Use atmospheric oxygen for respiration.

Aquatic organisms: Use dissolves oxygen for respiration.

Human respiratory system

The human respiratory system is composed of a pair of lungs. These are attached to a system of
tubes which open on the outside through the nostrils.

Following are the main structures in the human respiratory system:

1. Nostrils: There are two nostrils which converge to form a nasal passage. The inner lining
of the nostrils is lined by hair and remains wet due to mucus secretion. The mucus and the
hair help in filtering the dust particles out from inhaled air. Further, air is warmed up when
it enters the nasal passage.
2. Pharynx: It is a tube-like structure which continues after the nasal passage.
3. Larynx: This part comes after the pharynx. This is also called voice box.
4. Trachea: This is composed of rings of cartilage. Cartilaginous rings prevent the collapse
of trachea in the absence of air.
5. Bronchi: A pair of bronchi comes out from the trachea, with one bronchus going to each
lung.
6. Bronchioles: A bronchus divides into branches and sub-branches inside the lung.
7. Alveoli: These are air sacs at the end of bronchioles. The alveolus is composed of a very
thin membrane and is the place where blood capillaries open. This is alveolus, where the
oxygen mixes with the blood and carbon dioxide exits from the blood. The exchange of
gases, in alveoli, takes place due to the pressure differential.

Passage of air through the respiratory system in human beings:

Breathing Mechanism

 The breathing mechanism of lungs is controlled by the diaphragm and the intercostalis
muscles.
 The diaphragm is a membrane which separates the thoracic chamber from the abdominal
cavity.
 When the diaphragm moves down, the lungs expand and the air is inhaled.
 When the diaphragm moves up, the lungs contract and air are exhaled.