MLP, Ch-10 Respiration In Organisms

The cells of living organisms require a constant supply of oxygen to release energy. The energy released
is used to carry out cellular processes.
Breathing-It is the process by which organism takes in oxygen continuously and release carbon dioxide
into the environment. Breathing is a part of respiration, and it is also referred to as external respiration.
Breathing merely involves exchange of gases between the organism and the environment. Breathing is
purely a physical process.

• Breathing is brought about by coordination between lungs, ribs, and the diaphragm. Diaphragm is a thin
sheet of skeletal muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
• Breathing is a mechanical process that involves two steps – inhalation and exhalation.
a) Inhalation is the action of taking in air rich in oxygen. During inhalation, the rib cage moves outwards
and the diaphragm contracts to move downwards. As the rib cage expands, the space in the chest cavity
increases allowing air rich in oxygen enter the lungs.
b) Exhalation is the action of giving out air rich in carbon dioxide to the environment. During exhalation,
the ribs move inwards, and the diaphragm relaxes to return to its normal position. The contraction of rib
cage reduces the size of the chest cavity. Now air rich in carbon dioxide is driven out of the lungs.
RESPIRATION BREATHING
Respiration involves both
Breathing is purely physical
physical and chemical
process.
processes.
Breathing is the action of
Respiration involves oxidation
taking in oxygen and giving
of food to release energy.
out carbon dioxide.
Breathing does not release
Respiration releases energy.
any energy.
Breathing takes place only in
Respiration takes place in all
the organs involved in the
the cells of the body.
process.
Respiration involves
Breathing is a part of
breathing and oxidation of
respiration.
food inside the cell.

Breath and breathing rate-One complete breath accounts for the sum of one inhalation and one
exhalation. Breathing rate is the number of times a person breathes in one minute. Normal breathing
rate in an individual during rest is 15 – 18 breaths per minute. Breathing rate increases drastically during
exercise and running.
Respiration- Breakdown of food in the cell with the release of energy is called cellular respiration. It
takes place in all cells. It can be aerobic ( breakdown of glucose in presence of oxygen to release carbon
dioxide and energy) or anaerobic (breakdown of glucose in absence of oxygen to release alcohol in yeast
and lactic acid in muscle cells).
Respiratory system in human beings
 Different organs of respiratory system include nostrils, larynx, trachea, bronchi, a pair of lungs,
bronchioles and alveoli.
During exercise, breathing rate increases so as to obtain more amount of oxygen which in turn oxidizes
more food to release more energy required.
Respiration in lower animals-Respiration is a vital life process of all the cells in found in animals.
• Different animals possess different structures for respiration.
• Lower organisms respire through their cell membrane which helps in diffusion of gases.
• Organisms like insects respire through air holes called as spiracles.
• Respiration in lower organisms-Unicellular organisms like amoeba and paramecium respire through
their cell membrane. Cell membrane is thin and permeable to gases. They take in oxygen through entire
body surface and give out carbon dioxide. Exchange of gases takes place through the cell membrane by
the process of diffusion.
• Respiration in earthworms -Earthworms exhibit cutaneous respiration i.e. respiration by skin.
Earthworms do not possess special organs for respiration. They always secrete slimy secretion on to the
skin which keeps it moist.
• Respiration in insects-An insect body is covered with air holes called as spiracles. Air enters through
these air holes on the body and finally reaches the trachea. Tracheae are a network of fine air tubes
extending throughout the body. Trachea help in circulating the oxygen throughout the body. The oxygen
in the air diffuses into the tissues and is ultimately absorbed by the cells. The carbon dioxide released by
the cells is carried by the tracheae and given out through the spiracles.
• Respiration in fishes- Fish are the aquatic vertebrates which respire through structures called as gills.
This is called as branchial respiration. Gills are present on either side of the head and are supplied by
rich blood vessels. Fish obtain oxygen dissolved in water. Exchange of gases takes place in the gills of fish
supplied by numerous blood vessels.
• Respiration in frogs-Frog is an amphibian having two lives, one in water and one on land. They can
breathe through skin and lungs.

MLP QUESTIONS-
Q1 : Why does an athlete breathe faster and deeper than usual after finishing the race?
Answer: Our body needs energy for all activities. While doing heavy exercises like running, there is larger
demand of energy to perform those activities. Hence more oxygen is required to meet extra demand of
energy. Therefore, an athlete breathes faster and deeper than usual after finishing the race.
Also during running, due to lack of oxygen, some muscles may respire anaerobically and form lactic acid.
Extra oxygen is also required to burn this lactic acid into carbon dioxide.

Q2: Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Ans: Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration
Anaerobic respiration takes place in the absence of
It uses oxygen in the process.
oxygen.

In this process, glucose is completely

In this process, glucose is broken into ethyl alcohol,
broken down into CO2, water along with
CO2, and energy.
release of energy.

It usually occurs in lower organisms like yeast (fungi) and

It occurs in all organisms like mammals. bacteria. It can occur muscles of higher organisms during
heavy activities.
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide +
Glucose → Ethyl alcohol + Carbon dioxide + Energy
Water + Energy

Q3. Why do we often sneeze when we inhale a lot of dust-laden air?

Ans: When we inhale dust-laden air, dirt particles are captured within the nostrils. Sometimes they get
past the nostril hair in the nasal cavity and irritate the lining of the cavity. As a result, we sneeze.
Sneezing expels these foreign particles from the inhaled air and a dust free, clean air enters our body.

Q4. What is the site of respiration in a cell?

Ans: Mitochondria

HLP, Ch-10 Respiration In Organisms

Q1: Answer the following:

(a) When does a person need artificial respiration?
(b) From where can the person get supply of oxygen for artificial respiration?
(c) Does the person need to be kept on artificial respiration temporarily or permanently?
Answer: (a) During emergency conditions (e.g. fatal accidents, lungs failure etc.), lungs do not work
properly, artificial respiration is required.
(b) The person gets oxygen though an instrument called ventilator which act as artificial lungs.
(c) The person is kept on artificial respiration temporarily. When a person regains his health and starts
breathing naturally, artificial respiration is no longer required.
Q2: Name the animal that does dual breathing?
Answer: Frog

Q3: How does plant respire?

Answer: Plant respires through the following ways-
1. Through stomata present in leaves.
2. Through lenticels present on the bark of stem.
3. Through root hairs that takes up air via spaces present between the soil particles

Q4: Explain the breathing in frog.

Answer: Frogs are the only organisms which exhibit cutaneous, branchial, and pulmonary respiration in
during different stages of their life cycle.

• Adult frogs can breathe through their skin. Skin is moist and slimy helping the animal to respire
through skin under water as well as on land. This is termed to be cutaneous respiration.
• Adult frogs while on land respire through lungs. Lungs are the respiratory organs which help in
exchange of gases. This is termed to be pulmonary respiration.
• Tadpoles, the larval stages of frog live in water. They respire through their gills as they do not
possess well developed lungs. This is termed to be branchial respiration.
Q5: Why do frogs have thin and moist skin?
Answer: Thin and moist skin helps frog in breathing. Because of thin skin, gases can diffuse (or exchange
through) easily. Moist surface also helps gases to dissolve and diffuse into and out of skin cells.

Q6: Why is smoking harmful for us?

Answer: Smoking contains harmful gases and substances, which damages our lungs. These harmful
substances can also cause lung cancer. We must avoid it.

Q7: How does breathing take place in fishes?

Answer: A fish breathes by taking water into its mouth and forcing it out through the gill passages. As
water passes over the thin walls of the gills, dissolved oxygen moves into the blood and travels to the
fish's cells.

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