TOPICS IN THE CHAPTER(notes)

1. Respiration in Human Beings

2. Breakdown of Glucose by Various Pathways
3. Types of Respiration
4. Human Respiratory System
5. Mechanism of Breathing
6. Exchange of gases between alveoli, blood and tissues
7. Respiration in plants
Respiration in Human Beings
DEFINITION: Respiration is an essential physiological activity of all living organisms by which they obtain energy
for carrying out all other metabolic activities of the body. It is a catabolic process in which breakdown of complex
organic compounds occur and energy is released.

ORGANS OF RESPIRATION
 Skin or general body surface, as in earthworm.
 Air tubes or trachea, as in insects (grasshopper, cockroach, housefly).
 Gills as in aquatic animals like fish and prawn.
 Lungs as in land animals like frog, lizard, birds, rat, humans.
 Frog respires through skin as well as lungs (being amphibious)
All respiratory organs whether skin, trachea, gills or lungs have three common features:
 All the respiratory organs have a large surface area so as to get enough oxygen.
 All have thin walls for easy diffusion and exchange of respiratory gases.
 The respiratory organs like the skin, gills and lungs have a rich blood supply for transport of gases. In the tracheal
system, air reaches cells directly and blood plays no role in the transport of gases.
Respiration involves:
(i) Gaseous exchange (Breathing) : Intake of oxygen from the atmosphere and release of CO2.
(ii) Cellular respiration: Breakdown of simple food in order to release energy inside the cell.
• Breakdown of Glucose by Various Pathways
→ The first step is the break-down of glucose (a six-carbon molecule) into a three-carbon molecule called pyruvate which
takes place in the cytoplasm.
→ The pyruvate may be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide which takes place in yeast during fermentation. Since this
process takes place in the absence of air (oxygen), it is called anaerobic respiration.
→ The pyruvate is broken down into three-carbon pyruvate molecule in the presence of oxygen to give three molecules of
carbon dioxide and water. This process takes place in mitochondria. Since this process takes place in the presence of air
(oxygen), it is called aerobic respiration.
→ The pyruvate is converted into lactic acid when there is a lack of oxygen in our muscle cells, which is also a three-carbon
molecule. This build-up of lactic acid in our muscles during sudden activity causes cramps.
The whole process of breakdown of glucose is shown below:
→ The energy released during cellular respiration is immediately used to synthesise a molecule called ATP which is used to
fuel all other activities in the cell. In these processes, ATP is broken down giving rise to a fixed amount of energy which can
drive the endothermic reactions taking place in the cell.
ATP:It refers to a nitrogenous compound, Adenosine Tri-Phosphate.The energy released during cellular respiration is
immediately used to synthesize a molecule called ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.

ATP is used to fuel all activities in the cell. Therefore, it is said to be the energy currency of the cell.
→ The rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial organisms because the amount of
dissolved oxygen is fairly low compared to the amount of oxygen in the air.
• Types of Respiration
There are two types of respiration:
ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION
When respiration does not involve the uptake of oxygen then this type of respiration is called anaerobic respiration .Such
type of respiration is generally found in the parasitic worms, lower organisms (bacteria, yeast) etc.
AEROBIC RESPIRATION
When respiration involves the uptake of oxygen, then this type of respiration is called aerobic respiration. It requires
exchange of O2 and CO2 between the organisms and the surroundings. Aerobic respiration takes place inside mitochondria of
mammals.
Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration
Takes place in the presence of oxygen. Takes place in the absence of oxygen.
Occurs in mitochondria. Occurs in cytoplasm.
End products are CO2 and H2O. End products are alcohol or lactic acid.
More amount of energy is released. Less amount of energy is released.

• Human Respiratory System:

Passage of air through the respiratory system:
→ Nostril: Air is taken into the body.
→ Nasal Passage: It is a channel for airflow through the nose.
→ Nasal Cavity: It is lined with hairs and mucus membrane. It warms, moisturize, and filter air before it reaches the lungs.

→ Pharynx: It contains rings of cartilage which ensure that the air-passage does not collapse.

→ Larynx: It houses the vocal cords and manipulates pitch and volume, which is essential for phonation. It is also known as
voice box.
→ Trachea: Pharynx splits into trachea and oesophagus. It connects the larynx (or voice box) to the bronchi of the lungs. It
provides air flow to and from the lungs for respiration.
→ Bronchi: They are the main passageway into the lungs. They are the extensions of the windpipe that shuttle air to and
from the lungs. The oxygen goes to the lungs and carbon dioxide leave the lungs through them.
→ Bronchioles: Bronchi get smaller when they reach closer to lungs tissues and are called Bronchioles. They are the
passageways by which air passes through the nose or mouth to the alveoli of the lungs.

→ Alveoli: They are smaller tubes which finally terminate in balloon-like structures which are called alveoli. They allow
oxygen and carbon dioxide to move between the lungs and bloodstream.

→ Blood capillaries: They are the sites of the transfer of oxygen and other nutrients from the bloodstream to other tissues in
the body. They also collect carbon dioxide and waste materials and return it to the veins.
• Mechanism of Breathing
Inhalation Exhalation
During inhalation the thoracic cavity (chest cavity) expands. Thoracic cavity contracts.
Ribs lift up. Ribs move downwards.
Diaphragm become flat in shape. Diaphragm becomes dome shaped.
Volume of lungs increases and air enters the lungs. Volume of lungs decreases and air exits from the lungs.
• Exchange of gases between alveoli, blood and tissues
(i) Air (rich in O2) reaches blood which combines with haemoglobin in RBC and O2 is released in
alveoli tissues (through blood vessels).
(ii) CO2 is released in blood and dissolved into it and carried by blood vessels. The carbon dioxide is released in alveolar sac

which is sent out through nostrils.

→ Terrestial organisms: Use atmospheric oxygen for respiration.

→ Aquatic organisms: Use dissolved oxygen for respiration.
Respiration in plants
Respiration in plants is simpler than the respiration in animals. Gaseous exchange occur through :
(a) Stomata in leaves
(b) Lenticels in stems
(c) General surface of the root
Gaseous Exchange in Plants

 Plants need energy. This energy is obtained through the process of respiration:
 Plants exchange gases through stomata and the large intercellular spaces ensure that all cells are in contact with air.
 CO2 and O2 are exchanged by the process of diffusion.
 Exchange of gases CO2 and O2 in Plants:
 At Night → No Photosynthesis only Respiration → CO2 is given out
 At Daytime → Photosynthesis and Respiration → O2 is given out
 It takes place in all parts of a plant like roots, stem and leaf.
 Exchange of gases in roots take place by the process of diffusion.
 Oxygen diffuses into the root hair and passes into the root cells, from where carbon dioxide moves out into the soil.
 In woody plants, bark has lenticels for gaseous exchange.
 In leaves, respiration takes place by diffusion of oxygen through stomata into cells of the leaf and carbon dioxide is
released into the atmosphere.
Opening and Closing of Stomata
 Turgor pressure of guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata.
 When guard cells lose water, turgor process inside the guard cells decrease resulting in the closing of stomata.
 When water gets inside the guard cells, their turgor pressure increases, as a result stomata pore opens.