Aerobic Respiration in Animals

What is Aerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration is the process of cellular respiration that takes place in the
presence of oxygen gas to produce energy from food. This type of respiration is
common in most of the plants and animals, birds, humans, water and carbon
dioxide are produced as end products.
Aerobic respiration is a biological process in which food glucose is converted
into energy in the presence of oxygen.
The 2900 kJ energy is released during the process of breaking the glucose
molecule and in turn, this energy is used to produce ATP- Adenosine
Triphosphate molecules which are used by the system for various purposes.
Aerobic respiration process takes place in all multicellular organisms including
animals, plants and other living organisms. During the respiration process in
plants, the oxygen gas enters the plant cells through the stomata, which is found
in the epidermis of leaves and stem of a plant with the help of the
photosynthesis process, all green plants synthesize their food and thus releases
energy.

Aerobic respiration Diagram

The aerobic respiration diagram given below represents the entire process of
aerobic respiration. The different cycles involved in aerobic respiration such as
glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain are clearly mentioned in the
diagram
Steps of aerobic Respiration
The complete process of aerobic respiration occurs in four different stages.

Glycolysis
The primary step of aerobic respiration is glycolysis and takes place within the
cytosol of the cell. During the glycolysis process, the glucose molecules are split
and separated into two ATP and two NADH molecules which are later used in the
process of aerobic respiration.

Formation of Acetyl Coenzyme A

The second step in aerobic respiration is the formation of acetyl coenzyme A. In
this process, pyruvate is oxidized in the mitochondria and 2-carbon acetyl group is
produced. The newly produced 2-carbon acetyl group binds with coenzyme A,
producing acetyl coenzyme A.

Critical Acid Cycle

The third stage in aerobic respiration is the citric acid cycle which is also called the
Krebs cycle. In this stage of Aerobic respiration the oxaloacetate combines with
the acetyl coenzyme A and produces citric acid. The citric acid cycle undergoes a
series of reactions and produces 2 molecules of carbon dioxide, 1 molecule of ATP
and reduced forms of NADH and FADH.
Electron Transport Chain
This is the last step in aerobic respiration. In this phase the large amount of ATP
molecules are produced by transferring the electrons from NADH. A single
molecule of glucose creates a total of 34 ATP molecules.

Key Points on Aerobic Respiration

• Aerobic respiration is the process of utilization of oxygen to breakdown
glucose, amino acids, fatty acids to produce ATP.

• The pyruvate is then converted into acetyl CoA in the mitochondrial matrix.

• The Krebs cycle occurs twice per glucose molecule.

The protein complexes are arranged on the inner mitochondrial matrix so that
the electrons pass from one reacting molecule to the other. This is known as
the electron transport chain.

• ATP synthase produces ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate

Where does aerobic and anaerobic respiration take place?

Aerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondrial matrix of the cell. On the

contrary, anaerobic respiration occurs in the fluid portion of the cytoplasm.

What is the importance of aerobic respiration?

Aerobic respiration provides energy to the living organisms to perform all the
essential functions of life. That is why aerobic respiration is important.
What are the different types of aerobes?
The different types of aerobes include:

• Obligate aerobes that strictly need oxygen to grow.

Facultative aerobes can grow in the presence as well as the absence of

● Microaerophiles grow in the presence of oxygen but cannot survive in

the atmospheric concentrations of oxygen.

Advantage of aerobic respiration

The main advantages of the aerobic respiration are;

1. Large amount of ATP production takes place during aerobic respiration.

2. The byproducts of aerobic respiration are not harmful, since they are carbon
dioxide and water.

3. During aerobic respiration; the respiratory substrate is completely oxidized.

4. Aerobic respiration involves the process of exchange of gasses between the

living organisms and the environment.