Respiration

The breakdown of food molecules through oxidation in the cell called respiration.
In respiration organic molecules are oxidized to release energy which can be use by living cells to carry out
many vital activities. E.g.
 Contract muscle
 Synthesis proteins
 Cell division (to make new cells)
 Growth
 Enable active transport to take place
 Allow nerve impulses to be generated
 Maintain a constant internal body temperature

We take energy from food. Green plants transfer light energy into chemical energy which they store in the
form of organic molecules e.g., glucose. Living organisms release energy by breaking down these
molecules. Food molecules are broken down by a reaction called oxidation
There are two forms of respiration
 Aerobic respiration
 Anaerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration
• Aerobic respiration is the breakdown of food substances in the presence of oxygen with the release
of a large amount of energy
• Carbon dioxide and water are released as waste products
• Mitochondria are importance in aerobic respiration
• Most animals, including man, and green plants respire aerobically

• When glucose is broken down during aerobic respiration, some of its energy is used to form another
molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP.
• ATP is a quick source of a small amount of energy.
• In a living cell, ATP molecules are used to drive cellular processes.
Anaerobic respiration
• Anaerobic respiration is the breakdown of food substances with the release of a comparatively
small amount of energy in the absence of oxygen
• Ethanol and carbon dioxide are formed with less amount of energy
• Yeast can respire both aerobically and anaerobically.
• Anaerobic respiration in yeast is called fermentation

Anaerobic Respiration I Yeast:

• Yeast is able to respire anaerobically by breaking down glucose molecules into ethanol and carbon
dioxide.

• Ethanol is produced here, so it is a fermentation reaction. Remember that glucose is the only
reactant.
Anaerobic respiration in muscles
• When the amount of oxygen received by the muscle cells of the body is not enough to carry out all
respiration aerobically, the cells respire anaerobically. But they cannot go like that for a long time.
• The anaerobic respiration in humans is different than of yeast.
• Lactic acid is produced instead of ethanol, and no carbon dioxide is produced

• The lactic acid produced is very toxic and may reach a concentration high enough to cause muscle
fatigue.
• That is why it has to be broken down with oxygen as soon as possible. This is called oxygen debt.
• A period of rest is necessary to remove lactic acid from the muscles to be transported to the liver.
• Some of the lactic acid is oxidized to produce energy, which is then used to convert the remaining
lactic acid to glucose.