Aerobic Cellular Respiration The process by which the energy from glucose is released in the presence of oxygen is called

aerobic cellular respiration. Aerobic cellular respiration takes place only if oxygen is available. For instance, if glucose were oxidized, the result would be energy, carbon dioxide and water. Take a look at the chemical formula given below. C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP) In simple words, Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP) In brief, aerobic cellular respiration helps in release of maximum energy and also gets rid of carbon dioxide and excess water. Three Stages of Aerobic Cellular Respiration There are three stages of aerobic cellular respiration. They are

Glycolysis - The process of Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol of the cell. In this stage of the aerobic cellular respiration, glucose is partially oxidized and is broken down into 3 carbon molecules of pyruvate. This process of glycolysis produces energy - 2 ATP molecules and 2 NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) molecules. Each NADH molecule carries 2 energy electrons. The cells later use these electrons.

Krebs Cycle - This is the next stage of aerobic cellular respiratory. In Krebs cycle, pyruvate molecules are processed to release the energy that is stored between their molecular bonds. The energy is released in the form of ATP. This cycle is also known as the citric acid cycle.

Electron Transport Chain - This is the final stage of aerobic cellular respiratory. During glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle, entire energy was not released from the glucose. In this stage of aerobic respiration, remaining energy from the glucose will be released by the electron transport chain. The network of electrons carrying proteins to the inner membrane of the cell is known as electron transport chain. Eventually, in this stage the electrons along with the protons will be added to oxygen. When electrons and protons are added to oxygen, it produces water and not ATP (energy). Actually, ATP is produced when the protons are moved across the cell membrane. This is known as chemiosis.

A point worth mentioning here is, while glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell, the Krebs Cycle and electron transport takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. Oxygen plays a major role in aerobic cellular respiration because it is a great electron acceptor. It plays an active role in preventing the electrons from building up in the electron transport system.

Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of the lungs of terrestrial vertebrates. Aerobic organisms of these types--such as reptiles, birds and mammals--require oxygen to release energy via respiration, in the form of the metabolism of energy-rich molecules such asglucose.

Breathing is only one process that delivers oxygen to where it is needed in the body and removes carbon dioxide. Another important process involves the movement of blood by the circulatory system. Gas exchange occurs in the pulmonary alveoli by passive diffusion of gases between the alveolar gas and the blood in lung capillaries. Once these dissolved gases are in the blood, the heart powers their flow around the body (via the circulatory system). The medical term for normal relaxed breathing is eupnea. In addition to removing carbon dioxide, breathing results in loss of water from the body. Exhaled air has a relative humidity of 100% because of water diffusing across the moist surface of breathing passages and alveoli.

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