Respiration in Human and

Plant
What is Respiration?
• Respiration is the process of releasing energy from food, glucose.
• Respiration can be summarized with this equation:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

• The series of reactions are controlled by enzymes. The energy is stored for
later use by making Adenosine Tri Phosphate (ATP).
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 What is Cellular Respiration?

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Some examples of the use
of energy in organisms muscle
contraction

Respiration
supplies
the energy for

germination

chemical changes in cells cell division

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AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC
RESPIRATION

• Aerobic respiration is the form of respiration in which

oxygen is required.
• Sometimes plants or animals need to get energy from
their food when there is not enough oxygen , called
anaerobic respiration.

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Aerobic respiration in plants
• Oxygen from the air is able to diffuse into the leaves of plants
through stomata.
• They take in oxygen at night-time and give out the carbon
dioxide produced by respiration.
• But what happens during daytime, when photosynthesis is
also happening?

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 Respiration and photosynthesis

• Aerobic respiration occurs in the opposite direction as photosynthesis. So in

plants, photosynthesis is building up sugars at the same time as respiration is
using them up.
• During the daytime photosynthesis occurs more quickly than does respiration.
However, during the night photosynthesis stops and respiration carries on.
• Therefore during the day, plant cells can use some of the oxygen produced by
photosynthesis for respiration.
• Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 ---------------- 6CO2 + 6H2O +energy
• Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy ---------------- C6H12O6 + 6O2

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 Aerobic Respiration in
Animals
Animals need to breathe to get the oxygen for respiration.
We make two sets of breathing movements:

Breathing In called inspiration also called inhalation

Breathing Out called expiration or exhalation

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Respiratory System

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 The human breathing system

2 sets of muscles.
 1. The diaphragm
 2. Intercostal muscles which act to pull the ribcage
up and outwards.
 We feel as if we suck air into our lungs but actually
it is pushed in.
 Our muscles make the pressure in our chest lower
than atmospheric pressure outside so air is forced
in.

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• The air enters the lungs down the
trachea which branches into the right
and left bronchi.
• Each bronchus then divides further
into bronchioles. After about 20
branchings you reach the air sacs, the
alveoli.
• Each alveolus has a thin layer of
epithelial cells separating the air from
blood capillaries
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• Oxygen molecules diffuse from the
alveoli into the blood stream, where
there is a lower concentration of
oxygen.
• The carbon dioxide diffuses the
other way, from the high
concentration in the blood to the
alveoli.

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 Protecting the Breathing
System
• The passages down to the lungs are lined with ciliated
epithelial cells
• These cells have tiny hairs on the end of them
that beat and push mucus up the passages towards the
nose and throat where it can be removed
• The mucus is made by goblet cells because they are shaped
like a cup
• The mucus traps particles, pathogens like bacteria or
viruses, and dust and prevents them getting into the
lungs and damaging the cells there

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 Each epithelial cell has around
200 cilia that beat constantly
 The direction of their beat is
targeted towards the pharynx.

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Function of Cartilage in the
Trachea
• Rings of cartilage surround the trachea
(and bronchi)
• The function of the cartilage is to support
the airways and keep them open during
breathing
• If they were not present then the sides
could collapse inwards when the air
pressure inside the tubes drops
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What makes the lung good at gaseous
exchange?

• Large surface area – greater volume of gases exchanged

• Good blood supply – O2 and CO2 exchanged more
quickly
• Thin membranes – allows diffusion
• Moist lining – for the gases to dissolve

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Keeping the Lungs Clean

• Dust, bacteria and other particles stick to the mucus

secreted by cells lining.
• Cilia attached to these cells move the mucus and
dirt out of the lungs and it is swallowed.
• Acid in the stomach kills the bacteria

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 Features of Alveoli for Efficient gas Exchange

• large surface area to absorb oxygen.

• moist surface to allow oxygen to dissolve.
• thin lining to allow easy diffusion of
gases.
• dense network of blood capillaries for
easy gas exchange.
• Elastic walls
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 Features of capillaries for efficient gas exchange

• dense network to carry CO2 and O2

• Large surface area to transport gases

• Lining is one cell thick so gases can pass

through quickly and easily.
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 Intercostal Muscles

• These muscles are found between the ribs.

• There are two different types of intercostal
muscles.
• The internal intercostal muscles are located
on the inside of the ribcage.
• The external intercostal muscles lay on the
outside of the ribcage

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The Action of Intercostal
muscles
When you inhale,
the diaphragm contract
external intercostal contract and lower the thorax,
pressure inside the lungs decrease
flow of air into the lungs.
When you exhale,
diaphragm relax
external intercostal muscles relax,
thorax returns to its original position,
forcing the air out.
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The Action of Intercostal
muscles

Diaphram Ext.inter Size of Size of Lungs Pressure in Flow of air

Costal Thoraxic Lungs
Muscles cavity
INHALATION CONTRACT CONTRACT INCREASE EXPAND DECREASE FLOW IN
EXHALATION RELAX RELAX DECREASE CONTRACT INCREASE FLOW OUT

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INHALATION AND EXHALATION

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% of different gases in inhaled and exhaled
air

Gas Inhaled air (%) Exhaled air (%)

Oxygen 20 16

Carbon dioxide 0.04 4

Nitrogen 79 79

Water vapour Variable level 100% saturated

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Anaerobic respiration In animals
• This way of getting energy is not as efficient as aerobic respiration and
it also leaves a poisonous chemical, lactic acid.
• This stops your muscles working and they get sore.
• When you stop the lactic acid is slowly destroyed but that needs
oxygen.
• The amount of oxygen you need for this is called the 'oxygen debt'.

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 What is oxygen Debt

• A temporary oxygen shortage in the body tissues arising from exercise.

• During long periods of vigorous activity:
• lactate levels accumulate/build up
• glycogen reserves in the muscles become low as more glucose
is used for respiration, and additional glucose is transported
from the liver.
• This build-up of lactate produces an oxygen debt.
• As body stores of glycogen become low, the person suffers from
muscle fatigue.

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 How oxygen debt is removed

• Lactate is taken to the liver by the blood, and either:

• oxidised to carbon dioxide and water
• converted to glycogen -
• These processes require oxygen. This is why, when the period of activity is over, a
person’s breathing rate and heart rate do not return to normal straight away.
• Taking in the amount of oxygen required to remove the lactate, and replace the
body's reserves of oxygen, is called repaying oxygen debt.

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 Explaining the Link Between
Physical Activity & Breathing

• Frequency and depth of breathing increase when exercising

• This is because muscles are working harder and aerobically
respiring more and they need more oxygen to be delivered
to them (and carbon dioxide removed) to keep up with the
energy demand
• If they cannot meet the energy demand they will also respire
anaerobically, producing lactic acid
• (In order to supply more oxygen to the exercising cells, the body increases the
rate and depth of breathing.)

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Explaining the Link Between
Physical Activity & Breathing

• After exercise has finished, the lactic acid that has built up in
muscles needs to be removed as it lowers the pH of
cells and can denature enzymes catalysing cell reactions
• It can only be removed by combining it with oxygen - this is
known as ‘repaying the oxygen debt’
• This can be tested by seeing how long it takes after exercise for
the breathing rate and depth to return to normal - the longer
it takes, the more lactic acid produced during exercise
and the greater the oxygen debt that needs to be repaid

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• C 6 H 12 O6. → 2C 3 H 6 O3+ 2 ATP.
• Glucose → Lactic Acid + (Energy).
• C6H1206 → 2C2H50H+2C02
• Glucose → Ethanol + Carbon dioxide

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Fitness training increases the concentration of lactic acid that runners
can build up in their muscles before pain stops them running.
• What is a consequence of this increase?

More anaerobic respiration can take place in muscles.

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Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic
respiration Aerobic Anaerobic Respiration
respiration
in animals in plants and yeast

Oxygen required?
yes no no

ATP yield
38ATP 2ATP 2ATP

yes no no
Glucose completely broke
down?

End products
Carbon Lactic Ethanol
dioxide acid and carbon
and dioxide
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water RESPIRATION 36
 To Demonstrate Aerobic Respiration

An experiment was set up as shown in the diagram.

Another experiment is set up without any seeds but
with the KOH pellet. This acts as the control.
Why does the level of the mercury go up?
The oxygen in the apparatus is used up in respiration.
This lowers the air pressure inside the bulb raising the
level of mercury.
Why is the KOH pellet introduced?
KOH absorbs carbon dioxide. It is to rule out that
carbon dioxide may be absorbed by the seeds.

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 To Demonstrate that Carbon Dioxide is
Released during Respiration

Why does the lime water in D turn milky?

The lime water in D turns milky because the air given out from the seeds contains carbon dioxide.
Why does the lime water in B remain clear?
This is because the soda lime in A absorbs the carbon dioxide and it is this air that is entering the flask B.

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 To Demonstrate that Water is Lost
During Expiration

• Breathe gently on to a cold surface. Minute droplets of water can

be observed. This shows that expired air has more water vapour
than the inspired air. Thus, water is lost during respiration.

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 To Demonstrate that Heat is Liberated During
Respiration

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 To Demonstrate Anaerobic Respiration in
Plants

 Fill a test tube with mercury and invent it over a

petri dish containing mercury.
 Introduce some germinating seeds into the test
tube.
 The seeds will immediately rise to top. Leave the
set up for about a day.
 It is noted that the mercury level in the tube falls
and the space above the mercury is filled with a
gas.

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 To Demonstrate Anaerobic Respiration in
Plants

 Insert some crystals of caustic potash into

the top of the tube.
 The gas will be quickly absorbed by KOH and
the level of mercury rises to the top. Since
KOH absorbs carbon dioxide it is evident that
the gas is CO2.
 The germinating seeds did not get O2, so
they are exhibiting anaerobic respiration.

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 To Demonstrate Alcoholic Fermentation in Yeast

• Take 10% glucose solution in a test tube.

• Add a pinch of dry baker's yeast into the
glucose solution and cover the surface of the
liquid carefully with an oily layer to prevent the
contact with air.
• Set the apparatus as shown in the diagram.
• The whole apparatus is made air tight.
• The test tube with glucose is kept in warm
water (37oC - 40oC) in a beaker.
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 To Demonstrate Alcoholic Fermentation in Yeast

• After sometime, air bubbles arise and they turn the

lime water milky showing that the gas evolved is
carbon dioxide.
• Open the cork of the test tube, the smell of alcohol is
observed.
• This shows that the products of anaerobic respiration
by yeast are ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

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Investigate the factors affecting
yeast respiration
• The factors affecting respiration in yeast are:
• • temperature
• • pH
• • nutrient availability
• • build up of waste materials

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Investigate the effect of temperature on
yeast respiration.
• By collecting the carbon dioxide produced in a given time we can
determine the respiration rate.
• Set up identical experiments in five water-baths set at 10o C intervals.
• The higher the temperature, the more carbon dioxide will be released
by yeast, therefore forming a greater amount of bubbles.
• Once the temperature gets above a certain point the rate of
respiration will decrease.

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• As the temperature increased to
40o C, the rate of respiration of the
yeast increased. Above 50o C the
rate of respiration decreases.
• The enzymes starts to denature
above 40 and at 60 oC it stops.

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 •THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

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