The Regulatory

Mechanism in
Respiration
 The Regulatory Mechanism in Respiration
1. During vigorous exercise such as running, the muscles require more oxygen and glucose
to release energy during cellular respiration. Therefore, the rate of respiration
increases.

2. Consequently, the oxygen content decreases while the carbon dioxide content in the
cells increases.

3. In order to supply more oxygen to the muscles and to expel greater amounts of carbon
dioxide from the lungs, the rate and depth of breathing increase.

4. This means the breathing rate (number of breaths per minute) increases and the lungs
are inflated with more oxygen with each breath.

5. At the same time, the heartbeat rate (number of heartbeats per minute) increases to
pump more blood into the circulation.

6. This is to enable more oxygen and glucose to be supplied for cellular respiration in the
working muscles and for more carbon dioxide to be removed from the cells.

7. The ventilation rate is the rate of gaseous exchange between the alveoli and blood
capillaries.
The human respiratory response and rate of respiration
in different situations
Relaxing

 The breathing rate at rest is normally 18 to 20 breaths per minute while the
heartbeat rate is between 60 to 70 beats per minute.

During vigorous activities

 During vigorous activities such as swimming, running, aerobic exercise

and outdoor games, the breathing rate increases to 30 breaths per minute
while the heartbeat rate increases to 120 beats per minute.

 The increase in heartbeat rate helps the blood to deliver more oxygen and
glucose to the respiring cells. At the same time, carbon dioxide is removed
from the cells at a faster rate.
In fear
 When a person is in fear, the breathing and the heartbeat rates increase to meet the
demand of a higher respiration rate in the cells.

 A higher respiration rate is needed to generate more energy to enable the person in
distress or in fear to cope better.

 At the same time, the adrenal glands secrete the adrenaline hormone. This hormone
increases the heartbeat and breathing rates so that more glucose and oxygen are
supplied to the muscles.
 This prepares the person for a response to the dangerous situation.

At high altitudes
 At high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure is low and this may lead to difficulty in
breathing.

 Above 10 000 feet, the decreased partial pressure of oxygen causes a drop in the oxygen
level of blood.
 Initially, a person will experience headaches, nausea and dizziness.

 However, after a few days, the body will acclimatise 使适应新环境 to the condition as the
affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen is reduced and more oxygen is released to the body
tissues.
The regulatory mechanism of oxygen and carbon dioxide contents in the body
Respiration
in Plants
 The intake of oxygen by plants for respiration

1. Gaseous exchange between plant cells and the environment occurs by

diffusion mainly through the stomata and lenticels.
 Lenticels are raised pores found on the stems and roots of plant.
 The cells around the lenticels are arranged loosely to allow the
diffusion of gases into and out of the stem and root tissues.

Respiration and photosynthesis in plants

1. Respiration and photosynthesis are interdependent.

2. Photosynthesis produces the raw materials required by respiration, and

respiration produces the raw materials required by photosynthesis.

3. Photosynthesis can only occur in the presence of light. In darkness, plants

carry out only respiration.
 At low light intensity

1. Photosynthesis uses up the

carbon dioxide produced
during respiration and
releases oxygen needed for
respiration.

2. As light intensity increases

during the day, the rate of
photosynthesis also
increases.

3. Eventually, a point is reached

at which all the carbon
dioxide produced during
respiration is used in
photosynthesis.
4. At this point, there is no
net gain or net loss in
carbon dioxide by plants
and no net gain or net loss
in the sugar produced.

5. The plant has reached a

compensation point.

6. The compensation point is

the light intensity at which
the rate of carbon dioxide
production during
respiration is equal to the
carbon dioxide
consumption during
photosynthesis.
 At higher light intensity
1. As light intensity continues to increase during the day, the rate of photosynthesis
exceeds the rate of respiration.

2. The carbon dioxide produced during respiration is no longer sufficient for the
plants.

3. Plants must take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to supplement the need
for a higher concentration of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.

4. At the same time, the plants release the excess oxygen into the atmosphere.

5. For growth, reproduction and seed production to take place in plants, the rate of
photosyn­thesis must exceed the rate of respiration on a daily basis.

6. In this way, the rate of sugar production will exceed the rate of sugar
consumption and the excess sugar can be used for growth and other vital living
processes.

7. At the same time, the excess oxygen produced during photosynthesis can be
released into the atmosphere to sustain other living organisms.