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Respiration in Humans

The document outlines the processes of respiration and breathing in humans, highlighting the differences between the two. It explains aerobic and anaerobic respiration, detailing how energy is produced and the role of lactic acid during exercise. Additionally, it describes the human breathing system, including the anatomy involved in gas exchange and the mechanics of inhalation and exhalation.

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Asjal Mukhtar
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16 views5 pages

Respiration in Humans

The document outlines the processes of respiration and breathing in humans, highlighting the differences between the two. It explains aerobic and anaerobic respiration, detailing how energy is produced and the role of lactic acid during exercise. Additionally, it describes the human breathing system, including the anatomy involved in gas exchange and the mechanics of inhalation and exhalation.

Uploaded by

Asjal Mukhtar
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 DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOLOGY:

Respiration in humans,

Breathing:
 The exchange of gases
 Inhalation and exhalation
Respiration:
 It is a metabolic reaction that creates energy
 It is different from breathing
 It releases energy and warmth
 It releases the chemical energy stored in food
 It is the oxidization of glucose
 Word equation:
Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + energy + water
C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy
 Energy is produced in the form of ATPs
 There are 2 types of respiration:
1. Aerobic respiration:
 It is also known as tissue or cellular respiration
 It is the breakdown of glucose in the presence of Oxygen
 It produces a large amount of Carbon dioxide, water and energy
 All living organisms respire aerobically
 Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + energy + water
C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy
2. Anaerobic respiration:
 It is the breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen
 Mostly occurs in micro-organisms, like fungi (yeast) and
unicellular organisms
 Humans can respire both aerobically and anaerobically, human
skeletal muscles respire anaerobically when we start exercising
 It takes place in yeast, word equation:
Glucose  Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + energy
C6H12O6  2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + Energy
 Word equation for humans:
Glucose  Lactic acid + energy
C6H12O6  2C3H6O3 + energy

 Respiration in humans while and after doing exercise:


 When humans do exercise, for example a sprint race, our body
cannot respire aerobically alone to produce energy, since there is
lack of oxygen
 Our muscles start respiring anaerobically and produces energy, this
results in an oxygen debt
 Once we are done, we are breathing heavily, this is to provide
oxygen to the muscles so that the debt is paid
 Gradually the lactic acid is also transferred to the liver
 Some of it is oxidized to produce energy, the energy is then used to
convert the rest of the acid back to glucose, once all of the lactic
acid is gone, the oxygen debt has been paid
 The glucose is stored in the muscles again, the body is then ready
for another race

 Human breathing system includes:


i. Nose (Nasal Cavity):
The nasal cavity is with a fringe of hairs
They are lined with mucous producing cells
Dust and foreign particles are trapped by mucous as well as hairs
The air is moistened and warmed
Harmful chemicals may be detected by sensory cells
ii. Larynx:
The air enters larynx after passing through pharynx
It has an opening known as glottis
Larynx is also known as vocal chords, the moving air vibrates the
chords when we speak producing voice
iii. Trachea:
It is a windpipe supported by C-shaped cartilaginous rings which keep
the lumen open
The epithelial lining of the wall has 2 types of cells - mucous
producing and ciliated cells
The mucous traps dust and bacteria
The ciliated cells have hair like structures which sweep the mucous
trapped particles up the trachea
iv. Bronchi + Bronchioles:
The trachea is divided into two pipes, the bronchi (single: bronchus)
The bronchus further divides into much smaller bronchioles
As it divides into more bronchioles, the cartilaginous rings decrease
Every bronchiole ends in a cluster of air sacs or alveoli
v. Alveoli (air sacs):
Exchange of gases takes place through the walls of the alveoli
There are numerous alveoli present in the lungs, providing a large
area for gas exchange
The alveoli are thin walled, making it easier for gases to pass through
A thin film of moisture is present in the alveoli, allowing the oxygen
to dissolve in it and diffuse into the capillaries
The lungs are richly supplied by blood capillaries maintaining the
concentration gradient
Gas exchange in the alveoli:
 When the blood enters the capillaries it has low oxygen
concentration
 Concentration gradient is set up between the alveolar air and the
blood in the capillaries
 The oxygen from the alveoli moves into the blood by diffusion
 The carbon dioxide gas is less in the alveoli, so it moves from the
blood to the alveoli
 The concentration gradient is maintained by the continuous flow
of blood in the capillaries
And by the ventilation of the alveoli continuously

 Absorption of Oxygen into the blood:


 The blood concentration is high in the alveoli and low in the blood
 It is dissolved into the moisture lining and then moves into the
blood
 It combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin (an
unstable compound)
 When the blood passes by cells which have a low oxygen
concentration, the compound breaks and the oxygen diffuses into
the cells
 Removal of Carbon dioxide:
 The cells produce Carbon dioxide
 The blood in the capillaries has lower concentration gradient than
the cells
 The carbon dioxide diffuses into the capillaries
 It forms the hydrogen carbonate ion and is carried in the blood in
the plasma
 When they reach the alveoli, the ions break and release the
carbon dioxide
 The carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli and are breathed out
with the exhaled air

 Breathing movements consist of:


a. Inspiration or inhalation:
Breathing in
1. Diaphragm contracts and becomes flattened
2. The External intercostal muscles contract and the internal intercostal
muscles relax
3. The rib cage moves upwards and outwards
4. The Volume of the thoracic cavity increases
5. The lungs expand and the air pressure decreases
6. The atmospheric pressure is higher
7. The air is forced into the lungs
b. Expiration or exhalation:
1. Diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome-shaped
2. The external intercostal muscles relax and the internal intercostal muscles
contract
3. The rib cage moves downwards and inwards
4. The volume of thoracic cavity decreases
5. The lungs are compressed and the air pressure increases
6. The pressure inside the lungs is more than the atmospheric pressure
7. The air is forced out of the lungs
 Difference between expired and inspired air:
Inspired Expired

More oxygen (21%) Less oxygen (16%)

Less Carbon dioxide (0.03% - 0.04%) More Carbon dioxide (4%)

Nitrogen (78%) Nitrogen (78%)

Room temperature Body temperature

Water vapors depend upon surroundings More water vapors than inspired

Many foreign and dust particles Less to no dust and foreign particles

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