Class-X

Chapter- Life processes (Respiration)

We have discussed nutrition in organisms in the last section. The food material taken in during
the process of nutrition is used in cells to provide energy for various life processes. Different
organisms do this in different ways.

Respiration

It is defined as the process of oxidation of food in the cells to release energy for various
activities.

Food + Oxygen --------------> Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

The organic substances undergoing oxidative breakdown during respiration are called
respiratory substances like glucose.Some organisms use oxygen to break down oxygen
completely , while others do not.

Types of respiration

Aerobic Respiration- The process of breakdown of glucose using oxygen in the mitochondria to
give carbon dioxide and water is called aerobic respiration. This process takes place in the
presence of oxygen. Aerobic respiration starts in the cytoplasm and completes in mitochondria.
A large amount of energy is released in aerobic respiration i.e. 38 ATP molecules.
In Cytoplasm In mitochondria
Glucose-------------------->Pyruvate + Energy----------------------> 6Carbon dioxide + 6Water +38 ATP

Complete breakdown of glucose into carbon dioxide and water.

Anaerobic Respiration- The process of breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen to give
ethanol, carbon dioxide is called anaerobic respiration. This process takes place in cytoplasm. It
takes place in yeast during fermentation. Only 2 ATP

molecules of energy is released during this process.

In Cytoplasm In Yeast
Glucose ----------------------->Pyruvate + Energy-------------------> 2 Ethanol+2 Carbon dioxide+ 2ATP

The incomplete breakdown of glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

In our muscles, during vigorous exercise glucose is converted into lactic acid. This lactic acid
causes fatigue and muscle cramps.
In Cytoplasm In muscles
Glucose----------------------->Pyruvate + Energy ----------------------> 2 Lactic acid + 2 ATP
Difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

Takes place in presence of oxygen. Takes place in absence of oxygen.

Occurs in mitochondria. Occurs in cytoplasm.

End products are carbon dioxide and water. End products are ethanol or lactic acid.

More amout of energy is released. Less amount of energy is released.

The energy released during cellular respiration is immediately used to synthesize ATP
molecules. The word ATP stands for Adenosine triphosphate, also known as the energy
currency of the cell. ATP is broken down giving rise to a fixed amount of energy.

Respiration in plants -

Plants need energy to grow and perform different functions. They obtain this energy through
the process of respiration. Plants exchange gases through stomata and the large intercellular
spaces ensures that all cells are in contact with air. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged
by diffusion process. The direction of diffusion depends on the environmental conditions and
the requirement of the plant. The exchange of gases in roots takes place by diffusion from the
air present between the soil particles. Oxygen diffuses into the root cells and carbon dioxide
moves out into the soil.

In leaves, respiration takes place by diffusion of oxygen through stomata into the cells of the
leaf. During the day time carbon dioxide generated during respiration is used up for
photosynthesis, hence there is no carbon dioxide release. Instead, oxygen release is the major
event at this time.

At night, when there is no photosynthesis carbon dioxide elimination is major exchange activity
going on.

Respiration in animals

Animal have evolved different organs for the uptake of oxygen from the environment and for
getting rid of carbon dioxide produced. Some animals respire through their skin while others
through specific organs like gills and lungs. The terrestrial animals can breathe the oxygen in the
atmosphere but animals which live in water need to use the oxygen dissolved in water. Since
the amount of dissolved oxygen is fairly low as compared to amount of oxygen in the air, the
rate of breathing in the aquatic organisms is much faster than terrestrial organisms. Fishes take
in water through their mouths and force it past the gills where the dissolved oxygen is taken up
by blood.

Terrestrial organisms use atmospheric oxygen for respiration, which is absorbed by different
organs in different animals. All these organs have a structure that increases the surface area
and is in contact with the oxygen rich atmosphere. Since, the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide has to take place across this surface, it is very fine and delicate. To protect this surface it
is usually placed within the body well protected so, there are numerous passages that will take
air to this area. In addition, there is a mechanism for moving the air in and out of this area
where the oxygen is absorbed.

Respiration in human beings

Respiration in human beings involves gaseous exchange and cellular respiration.

Gaseous exchange- Intake of oxygen from the atmosphere and release of carbon dioxide.

Cellular respiration- Breakdown of food to release energy.

Air is taken in to the body through nostrils. The air passing through the nostrils is filtered by fine
hair that line the passage. The passage is also lined with mucus. The mucus warms, moisturize
and filter air before it reaches the lungs. The air passes through throat and into the lungs. Rings
of cartilage are present in the throat which ensure that the air passage does not collapse when
there is not much air in the wind pipe. Within the lungs wind pipe (trachea) divides into two
smaller tubes called bronchi. Bronchi are divided into smaller tubes called bronchioles. Each
bronchiole terminates into alveoli. Alveoli are balloon like structures present inside the lungs.
These alveoli provide a large surface area for exchange of gases. The walls of alveoli contain an
extensive network of blood vessels.

Mechanism of gaseous exchange in humans

When we breathe in, we lift our ribs and flatten our diaphragm, and the chest cavity becomes
larger as a result. Because of this, air is sucked into the lungs and fills the expanded alveoli. The
blood brings carbon dioxide from the rest of the body for release into the alveoli, and the
oxygen in the alveolar air is taken up by blood in the alveolar blood vessels to be transported to
all the cells in the body. During the breathing cycle, when air is taken in and let out, the lungs
always contain a residual volume of air so that there is sufficient time for oxygen to be
absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be released.

Respiratory pigment

Diffusion pressure alone cannot take care of oxygen delivery to all body parts in large sized
animal. So, respiratory pigments take up oxygen from the air in the lungs and carry it to tissues.
Hemoglobin is the respiratory pigment in human beings. It has very high affinity for oxygen and
is present in RBCs ( responsible for the red color of RBCs). Carbon dioxide being more soluble in
water than oxygen is mostly transported in the dissolved form in our blood.