Grade: VII Teaching Notes Subject: NS

RESPIRATION IN ORGANISMS
A. Short answers questions.
1. Define respiration.
A. The process by which energy is released by the breakdown of food.
2. Write a short note on the respiration of insects.
A. Insects have air holes or spiracles at the body surface, which lead to trachea that branch
into smaller tubes known as tracheoles. These tubes carry air directly to cells for gas
exchange.
3. How is respiratory system of fish different from that of insects?
A. Insects have air holes or spiracles at the body surface. Many aquatic animals use gills to
take up dissolved oxygen from water.
4. Explain the function of nasal cavity.
A. i) Air enters the respiratory tract through the nose and nasal activity.
ii) Air entering through the nose is filtered by the tiny hair present in the nasal activity. The
mucous membrane of the nasal cavity secretes mucus, a slimy material that traps dust
particles.
5. List the main organs of human respiratory system.
A. The respiratory system in humans consists of nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi,
lungs, diaphragm and alveoli.
6. What cause muscle cramps after exercise?
A. The accumulation of lactic acid in the body sometimes causes muscular cramps after
vigorous exercise or strenuous activity.
Glucose  Lactic acid + Energy
7. What happens to the inhaled air in the lungs?
A. After inhalation oxygen diffuses from the alveoli to the blood stream.

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 Grade: VII Teaching Notes Subject: NS

B. Distinguish between the following.

1.
External respiration
 Mechanical reaction of taking in and
giving out air.
 Physical process where no chemical
reaction takes place.
 Takes place in organs such as lungs
but not inside the cells.
 Doesn’t require catalysts.
 No energy is released.
Internal respiration
 Chemical reaction of food in living
cells to release energy in the presence
of enzymes.
 Chemical process that includes a set
of chemical reactions.
 Takes place inside the cell.
 Requires catalysts.
 Energy is released.

2.
Breathing Respiration
The mechanical action of taking in and The process by which energy is released by
giving out air the breakdown of food.
3.
Aerobic respiration Combustion
 Biological process  Chemical process.
 Takes place at normal temperature  Takes place at high temperature
 Slow and continuous process  Fast and not a continuous process
 Occurs in living cells  Doesn’t occur in living cells.
 Energy is released is used by the  Energy is released in the form of heat
organisms. and light.
4.
Factors Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
Oxygen Required Not required
Glucose breakdown Complete Incomplete
End products Carbon dioxide, water Lactic acid (Animal cells)
Energy releases Large amount small amount.

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 Grade: VII Teaching Notes Subject: NS

C. Long answer questions:

1. Explain in detail the path through which air moves in the human respiratory system.
A.

 Nose and nasal cavity : Air enters the respiratory tract through the nose and nasal
cavity
 Pharynx : The nasal cavity leads into pharynx. Pharynx is a tube that conducts both
food and air.
 Larynx : The larynx is a box-shaped structure just above the trachea. Air passes
through the larynx into the trachea
 Trachea : The trachea(Windpipe) is the main air way to the lungs. It is held in place
by C-Shaped rings made up of cartilage. The trachea subdivides into two main
branches, the right and left bronchus. Each bronchus leads into a lung
 Bronchi and lungs : Inside the lungs, each bronchus divides into smaller tubes called
Bronchioles. The bronchioles supply the lungs with air. The bronchioles lead to
Alveoli. Each alveoli is surrounded by capillary network

2. Explain the functioning of diaphragm during inhalation and exhalation of air?

 During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts (moves downwards), reducing the pressure
inside the lungs. This creates space inside the lungs for air to enter.
 During exhalation, the diaphragm returns to its resting position, increasing the
pressure inside the lungs. This reduces the space in the chest cavity and forces the air
out of the lungs.

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 Grade: VII Teaching Notes Subject: NS

3. Write a note on exchange of gases in the human respiratory system.

 Gas exchange occurs in the lungs between the alveoli and the capillary network. After
inhalation oxygen diffuses from the alveoli to the blood stream.
 In the blood stream, the oxygen attaches to hemoglobin and is carried through the
blood to the rest of the body cells where cellular respiration occurs.
 Carbon dioxide produced after cellular respiration then diffuses from the blood stream
into the alveoli, where it is transported out of the body during exhalation.

4. How does respiration in plants takes place? How is it different from photosynthesis?
A. Plants need oxygen to get energy out of the food they make. The oxygen required is
obtained through the process of respiration.
We know that plants use carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis and exhale oxygen
as waste.
The chemical equation of photosynthesis is
6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
The chemical equation of respiration is
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

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 Grade: VII Teaching Notes Subject: NS

5. Explain aerobic and anaerobic respiration with help of equations

A. Aerobic Respiration: The type of respiration that needs oxygen for it to occur is called
Aerobic respiration

Examples: Sports activities that use aerobic respiration include running, swimming, biking
and jogging
Anaerobic respiration: The type of respiration that does not need oxygen for it to occur is
called Anaerobic respiration

Examples: In the fermentation of wine, alcohol, and in the converting of milk to yogurt,
cramps in our body parts are the examples of anaerobic respiration.

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