Uses of Energy in Living

Organisms
•Respiration is a chemical process that involves the
breakdown of nutrient molecules (specifically glucose) in
order to release the energy stored within the bonds of
these molecules
•Respiration can take place with oxygen (aerobically) or
without oxygen (anaerobically).
•Much less energy is released for each glucose molecule
broken down anaerobically compared to the energy
released when it is broken down aerobically
•Respiration occurs in all living cells.
•Most of the chemical reactions in aerobic respiration take
place in the mitochondria
 Uses of energy in the human body
•Humans need this energy to do the
following things:
• Contract muscle
• Synthesise proteins
• Cell division (to make new cells)
• Grow
• Enable active transport to take
place
• Allow nerve impulses to be
generated
• Maintain a constant internal body
temperature
Exam Tip
 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

A. Aerobic respiration :
The release of a relatively large amount of
energy in cells by the breakdown of food
substances in the presence of O2.
B. Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration: the release of a relatively small amount of
energy by the breakdown of food substances in the absence of O2.

Muscles respire anaerobically when exercising vigorously, because the blood

cannot supply enough oxygen to maintain aerobic respiration.
However, the formation and build-up of lactic acid in muscles causes cramp
(muscle fatigue)
Anaerobic Respiration & Oxygen Debt
Comparing Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration
Features of Gas Exchange Surfaces

•The surfaces where gas exchange occurs in an organism are very different and
different organisms have evolved different mechanisms for getting the gases to
the gas exchange surface depending on size, where they live etc.
•All gas exchange surfaces have features in common.
•These features allow the maximum amount of gases to be exchanged across the
surface in the smallest amount of time
•They include:
• Large surface area to allow faster diffusion of gases across the surface
• Thin walls to ensure diffusion distances remain short
• Good ventilation with air so that diffusion gradients can be maintained
• Good blood supply to maintain a high concentration gradient so diffusion
occurs faster
The alveolus is the gas exchange surface in humans
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oYFCQvC-0Q&ab_channe
l=LungFoundationAustralia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Jbbu7UZAA&ab_channe
l
=LearnBright

Structures in the human breathing system

 Identifying Intercostal Muscles
•Muscles are only able to pull on bones, not push on them
•This means that there must be two sets of intercostal muscles; one
to pull the rib cage up and another set to pull it down
•One set of intercostal muscles is found on the outside of the
ribcage (the external intercostal muscles)
•The other set is found on the inside of the rib cage
(the internal intercostal muscles)
Function of Cartilage in the Trachea:
Rings of cartilage surround the trachea (and bronchi)
•The function of the cartilage is to support the airways and keep them
open during breathing
•If they were not present then the sides could collapse inwards when the air
pressure inside the tubes drops
 volume & Pressure Changes in the Lungs
•The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen; it is
ultimately responsible for controlling ventilation in the lungs
• When the diaphragm contracts it flattens and this increases the volume of the chest
cavity (thorax), which consequently leads to a decrease in air pressure inside the lungs
relative to outside the body, drawing air in.
• When the diaphragm relaxes it moves upwards back into its domed shape and
this decreases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax), which consequently leads to
an increase in air pressure inside the lungs relative to outside the body, forcing air out
•The external and internal intercostal muscles work as antagonistic pairs (meaning they work
in different directions to each other)
•During inhalation the external set of intercostal muscles contract to pull the ribs up and
out:
• This also increases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax), decreasing air pressure,
drawing air in
•During exhalation, the external set of intercostal muscles relax so the ribs drop down and
in:
• This decreases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax) increasing air pressure,
forcing air out
•When we need to increase the rate of gas exchange (for example during strenuous
activity) the internal intercostal muscles will also work to pull the ribs down and
in to decrease the volume of the thorax more, forcing air out more forcefully and
quickly – this is called forced exhalation
• There is actually a greater need to rid the body of increased levels of carbon
dioxide produced during strenuous activity!
•This allows a greater volume of gases to be exchanged
Differences in Inspired & Expired Air

Reason for Differences Between Inspired & Expired Air

Table
 Investigating the Differences in Inspired & Expired Air

•A simple experimental setup can be used to investigate the

differences between inspired and expired air

The limewater test

•When we breathe in, the air is drawn through boiling tube A
•When we breathe out, the air is blown into boiling tube B
•Lime water is clear but becomes cloudy (or milky) when carbon
dioxide is bubbled through it
•The lime water in boiling tube A will remain clear, but the
limewater in boiling tube B will become cloudy
•This shows us that the percentage of carbon dioxide in exhaled
air is higher than in inhaled air
Investigating the Effects of Physical Activity on Breathing
•Exercise increases the frequency and depth of breathing
•This can be investigated by counting the breaths taken
during one minute at rest and measuring average chest
expansion over 5 breaths using a tape measure held around
the chest
•Exercise for a set time (at least 3 minutes)
•Immediately after exercising, count the breaths taken in one
minute and measure the average chest expansion over 5
breaths
•Following exercise, the number of breaths per minute will
have increased and the chest expansion will also have
increased
Explaining the Link Between Physical Activity &
Breathing
•Frequency and depth of breathing increase when exercising
•This is because muscles are working harder and aerobically respiring more and they need more
oxygen to be delivered to them (and carbon dioxide removed) to keep up with the energy demand
•If they cannot meet the energy demand they will also respire anaerobically, producing lactic acid
•After exercise has finished, the lactic acid that has built up in muscles needs to be removed as
it lowers the pH of cells and can denature enzymes catalyzing cell reactions.
• CO2 and lactic acid concentration in tissue and in the blood ↑ ---> blood pH ↓
• Brain sense the change ---> nerve impulses sent to the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles,
stimulating them to contract harder and more often ---> faster and deeper breathing.
•It can only be removed by combining it with oxygen - this is known as ‘repaying the oxygen
debt’
•This can be tested by seeing how long it takes after exercise for the breathing rate and depth to
return to normal - the longer it takes, the more lactic acid produced during exercise and the
greater the oxygen debt that needs to be repaid
Effects of physical activity on breathing
• tidal volume: amount of air during normal, relaxed breathing
• vital capacity; maximum amount of air breathed in or out in one breath During
normal breathing: - depth (tidal volume) : ≈ 0.5ℓ -
• rate: 12 breaths/ minute
• During exercise: - depth: ≈ 5ℓ (depending on age, sex, size & fitness of person) –
• rate: over 20 breaths/ minute
• The total lung volume is greater than vital capacity (some air always remains in the
lungs). If not, alveoli walls would stick together, the lung would collapse.
Effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system
Protecting the Breathing System

The passages down to the lungs are lined with ciliated

epithelial cells
•Cilia comes from the Latin for eyelash, so unsurprisingly these
cells have tiny hairs on the end of them that beat and push mucus
up the passages towards the nose and throat where it can be
removed
•The mucus is made by special mucus-producing cells
called goblet cells because they are shaped like a goblet, or cup
•The mucus traps particles, pathogens like bacteria or viruses,
and dust and prevents them getting into the lungs and damaging
the cells there
Mucus traps particles, dust and pathogens and cilia beat and
push it up and away from the lungs
Exam Tip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=miEEluVlemQ&ab_channel=CSTSGLOBAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=seDJZqaJMTQ&ab_channel=ProyectoLumina
The Effect of Temperature on Respiration
The Effect of Temperature on the Respiration of Yeast Cells
•There are several different experimental methods that can be used to investigate the rate of
respiration in organisms
•Some methods involve the use of a colored indicator such as the experiment described below
•An indicator can be used to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of aerobic
respiration in yeast
•Methylene blue dye is a suitable indicator
•This dye can be added to a suspension of living yeast cells because it doesn't damage cells
•Yeast can respire both aerobically and anaerobically, though in this experiment it is their rate
of aerobic respiration that is being investigated
•The time taken for the methylene blue to discolour (lose its colour) is proportional to the rate
of respiration of the yeast cells in the suspension.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2nBPqSiLg5E&ab_channel=NucleusMedicalMedia
Apparatus
•Yeast suspension
•Glucose solution
•Test tubes
•Stopwatch
•Methylene blue
•Temperature-controlled water
bath(s)

Methylene blue is added to a solution of aerobically respiring yeast cells in a glucose suspension. The
rate at which the solution turns from blue to colourless gives the rate of aerobic respiration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=aKduNgfePLU&ab_channel=NucleusMedicalMedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SKtWyxFbJQM&ab_channel=AsthmaAustralia
Controlling other variables
•It is important when investigating one variable to ensure that the other variables in
the experiment are being controlled
• Volume of dye added: if there is more dye molecules present then the time
taken for the colour change to occur will be longer
• Volume of yeast suspension: when more yeast cells are present the rate of
respiration will be inflated
• Concentration of glucose: if there is limited glucose in one tube then the
respiration of those yeast cells will be limited
• Temperature: an increase or decrease in temperature can affect the rate of
respiration due to energy demands and kinetic energy changes. The
temperature of the dye being added also needs to be considered
• pH: a buffer solution can be used to control the pH level to ensure that no
enzymes are denatured
Results
•A graph should be plotted of temperature (x-
axis) against time (y-axis)
•As the temperature increases, the rate of
RESPIRATION also increases so the time taken
for the solution to go colourless reduces
• This means hydrogens are released by the
reactions more quickly, hence the DCPIP
accepts electrons/hydrogens more quickly
until all molecules of DCPIP are reduced.
This means that it will take less time to
turn from blue to colourless