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Introduction |
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All living creatures need food. The food is consumed so that energy is obtained. The energy is utilised by the body for various purposes like locomotion, conduction of impulses, repair of damaged tissues, building of cell materials, etc. |
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Stages of Respiration |
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As mentioned in the above section, for energy to be released from food, there has to be an exchange of gases - oxygen and carbon dioxide. |
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External Respiration |
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Cellular respiration is common to all organisms - plants or animals. However, the external respiration, that is, the mechanism of gaseous exchange is different for different organisms. |
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Gaseous Exchange in Humans |
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In humans the respiratory organs are the lungs. |
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Gaseous Exchange |
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The exchange of respiratory gases is through membranes. In lungs, the gases are exchanged between the lungs and the blood capillaries and in the tissues, the gases are exchanged between the cells and the blood surrounding them. |
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Breathing Mechanism |
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The physical movements associated with the gaseous exchange are called breathing. The various structures that are involved in the breathing mechanism are the respiratory passage, the lungs, the outer and inner intercostal muscles, the diaphragm and the muscles attached to the diaphragm. |
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Cellular Respiration |
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Glucose is a carbohydrate, a compound of carbon and hydrogen. The bonds between the carbon and the hydrogen atoms are very strong. In the cells, the substrate, often glucose, is broken down into carbon dioxide and water in the presence of oxygen. This process breaks the bonds between carbon and hydrogen and thus releases energy. |
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Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration |
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Most of plants and animal cells respire aerobically, that is, in the presence of oxygen. However, there are certain microbes that respire in the absence of free oxygen. This respiration is called anaerobic respiration. It is also called fermentation. Among plants, it takes place in yeast, bacteria such as E.coli, Clostridium tetani, etc. Among animals, only certain cells are temporarily anaerobic (when they are short of oxygen) such as the muscle cells. Anaerobic respiration is of two types. Anaerobic respiration where alcohol is formed. |
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Common Respiratory Disorders |
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The disorders of the respiratory system that includes the lungs and the respiratory tract are called the respiratory disorders. These disorders may be classified as communicable and non-communicable diseases. The communicable disorders are caused by the disease causing germs or the pathogens and are transmitted from infected persons to the healthy ones. The non-communicable diseases are caused by various factors such as the environment, profession, etc. |
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Summary |
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Respiration is defined as the catabolic biochemical process during which organic compounds break down in order to release energy. |
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Conclusion |
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Respiration is an important process in nature. It is a process by which the solar energy trapped by the plants in the food can be utilised. The organic compounds are broken down to release energy. This energy is in the form of ATP molecules and is made available for all the vital activities of the organism. ATP can also be stored. |
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