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The Respiratory System

The document discusses respiration and the human respiratory system. Respiration is the process by which cells release energy from glucose. There are two types of respiration: aerobic respiration which uses oxygen to fully break down glucose and release more energy, and anaerobic respiration which breaks down glucose without oxygen and releases less energy. The human respiratory system involves inhalation to take in oxygen, exhalation to release carbon dioxide, gas exchange in the lungs between oxygen and carbon dioxide, and a breathing mechanism controlled by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

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Piyush Roy
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39 views3 pages

The Respiratory System

The document discusses respiration and the human respiratory system. Respiration is the process by which cells release energy from glucose. There are two types of respiration: aerobic respiration which uses oxygen to fully break down glucose and release more energy, and anaerobic respiration which breaks down glucose without oxygen and releases less energy. The human respiratory system involves inhalation to take in oxygen, exhalation to release carbon dioxide, gas exchange in the lungs between oxygen and carbon dioxide, and a breathing mechanism controlled by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

Uploaded by

Piyush Roy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Respiratory System

Respiration:
The process which helps in releasing of energy from cells of the body is respiration. It is a
catabolic process.
The two types of respiration are:
 Aerobic Respiration:
 The breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen is called aerobic respiration.
 This reaction occurs in mitochondria found in the cell cytoplasm and energy is
released during this reaction.
 Pyruvic acid is converted into carbon dioxide. Energy is released and a water
molecule is also formed at the end of this process.
 Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water (+ Energy)
 Aerobic respiration releases more energy per glucose molecule than anaerobic
respiration does.
 Anaerobic Respiration:
 The breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen is called anaerobic
respiration. Lactic acid is formed during this reaction.
 Anaerobic respiration also occurs in microorganisms such as yeast and some
bacteria.
 Pyruvic acid is either converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid along with carbon
dioxide.
Respiration: The process by which glucose undergoes oxidation to release energy.
The following are the steps in the human respiratory system:
 Inhalation: Breathing in air or taking in oxygen into the body.
 Exhalation: Breathing out air rich in carbon dioxide from the body.
 Exchange of gas: The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the capillaries of lungs
takes place by the process of diffusion. Gas is exchanged in the lungs where oxygen is
diffused into the blood and the carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood. Gases move from
the area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure. Venous blood carries oxygen at 40
mm into the capillaries in lung whereas the pressure of carbon dioxide is 46 mm. Hence
oxygen is able to flow from the blood to the tissue blood and carbon dioxide from the fluid
in the tissues into the blood.
 Breathing Mechanism: The breathing mechanism of lungs is controlled by the diaphragm
and the intercostal 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 is exhaled.
 Cellular Respiration: Produces chemical energy and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide
from cellular respiration is also breathed out of the body from the lungs.

Transportation of Oxygen and Carbon dioxide:


Oxygen:
Red blood cells (RBC) in blood contain a respiratory pigment rich in iron called
haemoglobin. Haemoglobin which has an affinity for respiratory gases mixes with oxygen
to become oxyhaemoglobin. Oxygen reaches into each cell and oxidises food and produces
energy. This energy is stored as ATP.
Carbon dioxide (CO2):
CO2 is transported in two ways,
 Through plasma: CO2 combines with water to form carbonic acid. Bicarbonates that form
from the carbonic acid are transported by the RBC as well as plasma.
 Through RBC: CO2 combines with haemoglobin to form carboxy-haemoglobin in the
RBC and carried to the lungs.
Characteristics of Respiration:
 The breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide and water occurs in several steps.
 Each breakdown step is carried out by a specific enzyme. It involves a series of chemical
reactions:
 Glycolysis: Glycolysis is a metabolic process and the first stage in cellular respiration. It
occurs in almost all organisms as both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Glycolysis
releases only a small amount of energy.
 Krebs cycle: The Krebs cycle also known as the citric acid cycle is a part of cellular
respiration. It is actually a series of chemical reactions used by organisms to generate
energy; Krebs cycle uses the aerobic respiration process.
 Electron transport: Electron transfer chains (ETC) are cellular mechanisms that are used
for getting energy from sunlight in photosynthesis. They are also a part of cellular
respiration process where oxidation of sugar occurs. The Krebs cycle provides hydrogen
and electrons needed for the ETCs.
 A small amount of energy liberated in the breakdown of the glucose molecule is released
as heat energy. But a major part of it is converted into chemical energy in the form of
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

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