Respiration in Organisms

We respire to use the oxygen, to oxidise our food and release energy. This is similar like burning but a slower process. it also needs respiratory enzymes .Respiration is a slower process than burning and energy released can be stored for later use.
C6 H12 O6+ O2------------------> H2O+ CO2+energy

The food has stored energy which is released during respiration, thus we should eat regularly.

The air we breathe in transported to every parts of body and ultimately it is transported to each cell, in the cells, oxygen in the air helps in the breakdown of food, this process of breakdown of food in the cell with the release of energy is called cellular respiration.

The air we breathe in transported to every parts of body and ultimately it is transported to each cell, in the cells, oxygen in the air helps in the breakdown of food, this process of breakdown of food in the cell with the release of energy is called cellular respiration. Cellular respiration occurs in the cells of all organisms.

• Both aerobic and anaerobic respiration are necessary for the survival of living organism.
• In both type of respiration, the food is broken and energy is released for the functioning of an organism.
• In both type of respiration, Carbon Dioxide, Water and Energy is produced finally

Human breathing mechanism is called tidal breathing because air comes in and out using the same path.

If we want to make our own bread, we can buy yeast in the grocery store. This yeast consists of little brown grains. The little brown grains of yeast may not seem to be alive, but if we put them in water with sugar, the yeast will carry out cellular respiration and grow. We can grow yeast in a test tube filled with water and sealed with a balloon. Under anaerobic conditions, yeast carries out alcoholic fermentation, so it produces lactic acid and energy.

Yeast is single celled organism that respires anaerobically and during this process yield alcohol. Yeast get energy through anaerobic respiration, in the absence of oxygen, glucose breaks down into oxygen and carbon dioxide, the equation for the reaction is as follow:
Glucose in absence of oxygen > alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy

The food has stored energy, which is released during respiration. Therefore, all living organisms respire to get energy from food by breathing the air. During heavy exercise, fast running, cycling, walking for many hours or heavy weight lifting, the demand for energy is high. Therefore, to meet the extra demand of energy, an athlete breathes faster and deeper than usual after finishing the race.

When we inhale a lot of dust-laden air, the dust particles get trapped in the hair present in ournasal cavity. However, sometimes these particles may get past the hair in the nasal cavity. Then they irritate the lining of the cavity, as a result of which we sneeze. Sneezing expels these foreign particles from the inhaled air and a dust free, clean air enters our body.

Mountaineers carry oxygen with them because the amount of air available to a person is less than that available on the ground.

During heavy exercise the demand for energy is high. But the supply of oxygen to produce energy is limited. Then anaerobic respiration takes place in the muscle cells to fulfil the demand of energy.
Glucose in absence of oxygen > Lactic Acid + Energy The cramps occur only when the muscle cells respire anaerobically. The partial breakdown of glucose produces lactic acid. The accumulation of lactic acid causes muscle cramps.

During a physical activity we need more energy. Whenever a person needsextra energy he/she breathes faster. As a result, more oxygen is supplied to our cells. It speeds up the breakdown of food and more energy is released. Due to rapid breakdown of food we feel hungry.

The process of taking in of air rich in oxygen into the body is called ‘inhalation’. During inhalation, ribs move up and outwards and diaphragm moves down. This movement increases space in our chest cavity and air rushes into the lungs. Exhalation is the process of giving out of air giving out of air rich in carbon dioxide is known as ‘exhalation’. During exhalation, ribs move down and inwards while, diaphragm moves up to its former position. This movement reduces the size of our chest cavity and air is pushed out.

When we inhale air it passes through our nostrils to nasal cavity. From nasal cavity the air reaches our lungs. The exhaled air follows same route to go out. Breathing in and out involves the movement of the diaphragm and the rib cage.

Gills in fish help them to use oxygen dissolved in water and thus, help them in breathing. Gills are projections of their skin. These are well supplied with blood vessels for exchange of gases.

In plants each part can independently take in oxygen from air and give out carbon dioxide. Leaves of the plants have tiny pores called ‘stomata’ for exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Roots take up air from the pores (air spaces) present between the soil particles.

Like all other organisms, plants also respire for their survival. They take oxygen from the air and give out carbon dioxide. In the cells oxygen is used to breakdown glucose into carbon dioxide and water as in other organisms.

We take in air through our nostrils, when we inhale air, it passes through our nostril into nasal cavity and from there it reaches our lungs through the wind pipe. Lungs are present in chest cavity which is surrounded by ribs on the sides; diaphragm forms the floor of chest cavity. Breathing involves the movement of diaphragm and the rib cage. During inhalation ribs move up and outwards and diaphragm moves down, because of this movement space in our chest cavity increases and air ruses into the lungs. During exhalation ribs move down and inward and diaphragm moves up to its former position, this reduces the size of chest cavity and air is pushed out of the lungs.

We take in air through our nostrils, when we inhale air, it passes through our nostril into nasal cavity and from there it reaches our lungs through the wind pipe. Lungs are present in chest cavity which is surrounded by ribs on the sides; diaphragm forms the floor of chest cavity. Breathing involves the movement of diaphragm and the rib cage.

During inhalation ribs move up and outwards and diaphragm moves down, because of this movement space in our chest cavity increases and air ruses into the lungs.

During exhalation ribs move down and inward and diaphragm moves up to its former position, this reduces the size of chest cavity and air is pushed out of the lungs.

We should cover our nose while sneezing, so that the foreign particles expelled during sneezing did not get inhaled by other persons.

Air around us contains various unwanted particles like smoke, dust, pollens, etc. during inhalation of air these particles get trapped in the hair of nasal cavity and thus these hairs allow clean air to enter our body.

The percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in inhaled air is 21% and 0.04% respectively and the percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in exhaled air is 16.4% and 4.4% respectively.

A cockroach has a small opening on the side of its body, these openings are called spiracles. Oxygen rich air rushes through spiracles into the tracheal tubes diffuses into the body tissue and reaches every cell of body. In the same way carbon dioxide from the cells goes into the tracheal tube and moves out through spiracles.

A cockroach has a small opening on the side of its body, these openings are called spiracles. Oxygen rich air rushes through spiracles into the tracheal tubes diffuses into the body tissue and reaches every cell of body. In the same way carbon dioxide from the cells goes into the tracheal tube and moves out through spiracles.

Earthworm breathes through their skins, the skin of an earthworm feels moist and slimy on touching and gases can pass easily through them.

Water animals have gills that help them to use oxygen dissolved in water. Gills are projections of the skin which are well supplied with blood vessels for exchange of gases.

In plants the roots take in air present in soil, leaves have tiny pores called stomata that help in exchange of gases. The breakdown of glucose in the plant cells is similar to that in other living beings.