LIFE PROCESSES - RESPIRATION

RESPIRATION - INTRODUCTION
•
TYPES OF RESPIRATION
In most of the cases, the organisms carry out respiration by using
oxygen. However there are some organisms which carry out respiration
without using oxygen. Based on this, we have two types of respiration:

1. Aerobic respiration (in the presence of oxygen)

2. Anaerobic respiration (in the absence of oxygen)

AEROBIC RESPIRATION
•
ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION
• It is the respiratory process in which small amount of energy is released in the absence of oxygen
from the breakdown of food substances. It takes place in yeast, some anaerobic bacteria and in
human muscles (muscle cells become temporarily anaerobic, when there is lack of enough
oxygen supply during active exercise).

• Anaerobic respiration is termed as fermentation in microorganisms. On the basis of the products

formed, it is categorised as:

1. Alcoholic fermentation (in yeast)

2. Lactic acid fermentation (in some bacteria, in human muscles)
 ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION
•

FERMENTATION OF GRAPES FOR WINE

PRODUCTION
LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION
•
 DIFFERENCES
AEROBIC RESPIRATION
• Occurs in the presence of
oxygen.
• Large amount of energy is
released – each glucose
molecule produces 38
molecules of ATP.
• Begins in the cytoplasm and
continues in the mitochondria.
• Carbon dioxide and water are
the end products.
ANAEROBIC
RESPIRATION
• Occurs in the absence of oxygen
• Small amount of energy is
released – each glucose
molecule produces 2 molecules
of ATP.
• Occurs only in the cytoplasm.
• End products are either lactic
acid or ethanol and carbon
BREAKDOWN OF GLUCOSE BY VARIOUS
PATHWAYS
ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE
•
HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
NOSTRILS – air is taken into the body through nostrils. It is lined by hair and mucus which helps to
filter the air entering through it.

NASAL PASSAGE – air entering the nostrils leads to nasal passage. It is mainly responsible for
conditioning the air.
PHARYNX – nasal chamber opens into the pharynx. It passes air to the larynx.

LARYNX – it is located in the neck region in front of trachea. It produces sound.

TRACHEA - the air passes from pharynx and goes into the trachea. Incomplete rings of cartilage
keep trachea open allowing the passage of air to the lungs and also prevent it from collapsing
when there is no air in it.
BRONCHI – trachea divides into two smaller tubes called bronchi after entering the thoracic
cavity, which further extends into lungs.

BRONCHIOLES – bronchi are sub-divided into smaller tubes called bronchioles. Each bronchiole
finally terminates into many alveoli.

ALVEOLI – these are balloon-like structures located inside the lungs. A large number of alveoli
increases the surface area for the exchange of gases. They have thin walls, moist surface and are
richly supplied with blood capillaries. These features makes them ideal for exchange of gases.
RIBS – these are 12 pairs of bones that form a cage in thoracic region. It protects the lungs and
heart. Movement of intercoastal muscles attached to ribs helps in breathing.
LUNGS – these are the primary organs for respiration, which are located on the two sides of heart.
They transport oxygen from the atmosphere into blood and release carbon dioxide from blood to
atmosphere. They are enclosed by protective membranes called pleura.
DIAPHRAGM – it is a muscular partition between thorax and abdomen and forms the base of the
chest cavity. During inhalation, it flattens and increases the chest cavity so that air is sucked into
lungs, while it relaxes during exhalation.
MECHANISM OF GASEOUS EXCHANGE
INHALATION

Diaphragm contracts/flattens.
External intercoastal muscles
contract, internal intercoastal
muscles relax
Ribs and sternum (breastbone)
move upward and outward.
Volume of thoracic cavity
increases.
Air pressure in the thoracic cavity
decreases and outside air is
drawn inside the lungs.
 EXHALATION

Diaphragm relaxes.
External intercoastal muscles
relax, internal intercoastal
muscles contract.
Ribs and sternum (breastbone)
move downward and inward.
Volume of thoracic cavity
decreases.
Air pressure inside the thoracic
cavity increases and inside air is
forced out of the lungs.
RESIDUAL VOLUME OF AIR
• Volume of air left in the lungs after forceful exhalation (1500 ml).

• Lungs always contain a residual volume of air so that there is

sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and carbon dioxide to be
released.
 RESPIRATORY PIGMENT
• Diffusion pressure alone cannot deliver oxygen to all body parts in large sized animals.
• Respiratory pigment takes up oxygen from the air in the lungs and carry it to the tissues.
• Haemoglobin is the respiratory pigment in human beings.
• It is present in the RBC and has a strong affinity for oxygen.
• It binds with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin and thus through blood oxygen is transported to all parts of
the body.
• Carbon dioxide is transported mainly as bicarbonates dissolved in plasma and a small percentage (about
10%) of carbon dioxide binds with haemoglobin to form a complex called carbaminohaemoglobin.
END