7.
1 THE RESPIRATORY PROCESS
1. Living organisms require energy to carry out all living processes such as:
(a) Movement
(b) Growth
(c) Reproduction
(d) Response
(e) Breathing
(f) Digestion
(g) Excretion
2. Energy is required for the various processes in the cell such as:
(a) Cell division
(b) Formation of gamete for reproduction
(c) Transmission of nerve impulses
(d) Contraction of muscles
(e) Synthesis of protein, hormones, lipid and enzymes
3. Respiration is the oxidation of food substances in the mitochondria of the cells to release
energy.
4. Glucose is the main substrate for energy production. Glucose is obtained from:
(a) The digestion of carbohydrate in humans and animals
(b) The process of photosynthesis in plants
7.1.1 Types of respiration
1. There are two type of respiration:
(a) Aerobic respiration
- Aerobic respiration is the breaking down of glucose in the presence of oxygen to release
chemical energy
- Takes place in all living cells of plants, animals and in certain microorganisms
- Occurs in the mitochondria and cytoplasm
- Occurs slowly and in stages controlled by enzymes
- The glucose is completely oxidized to release all the chemical energy in the glucose
- Some of the energy released is changed into body heat while the rest is stored in the form of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
When body cells need energy, ATP molecules will be hydrolysed to yield energy, a molecule of
ADP and an inorganic phosphate
ATP ADP + P + energy
- During aerobic respiration, 38 molecule of ATP or 2898 kJ of energy is released.
- Aerobic respiration can be represented by the following equation:
Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H20 + energy (2898 kJ)
(a) Anaerobic respiration
- Anaerobic respiration is the breakdown of glucose to produce energy in the absence of oxygen
- Glucose is not completely broken down, only small amount of energy is released
- Occurs only in the cytoplasm
- Occurs both in animal cells and plant cells
(i) Anaerobic respiration in human muscles
Occurs in human muscles during vigorous exercise or activities
During vigorous exercise,
- The breathing rate and heart beat are increased to supply oxygen to the muscle for rapid
muscular contraction
- However, the supply of oxygen to the muscles is still insufficient tom provide the sudden
energy demand
- Hence, anaerobic respiration takes place to produce the require energy for muscular
contraction in the absence of oxygen
Glucose Lactic acid + energy (150kJ)
C6H12O6 2 C3H6O3+ energy (150 kJ or two molecules of ATP)
- Lactic acid accumulates in the muscles causing muscular ache, fatigue and cramps
- An oxygen debt occurs because the maximum rate of oxygen used is more than the oxygen
supplied
- Oxygen is required to pay off the oxygen debt by rapid breathing after the vigorous exercise
- Oxygen oxidizes the lactic acid to carbon dioxide, water and energy
(i) Anaerobic respiration in yeast
Anaerobic respiration in yeast is called fermentation
During fermentation, yeast secretes the enzyme zymase which hydrolyses glucose in the
absence of oxygen to form ethanol, carbon dioxide and energy
Glucose ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy (150kJ)
C6H12O6 2C2H5OH+ 2CO2 + energy (150 kJ or two molecules of ATP)
In the fermentation, only small amount of energy is released. A large amount of energy is still
stored in the ethanol as chemical energy. This is because glucose is not completely broken
down in anaerobic respiration
1. Comparison between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration
SIMILARITIES
DIFFERENCES
Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
7.1 RESPIRATORY TRUCTURES AND BREATHING MECHANISMS IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
1. Breathing:
- Is the exchange of gases between the organism and the environment
- Involves the process of taking oxygen and removing carbon dioxide
2. The common characteristics of respiratory surface for gaseous exchange:
(a) Large total surface area
- To enhance the efficiency of gaseous exchange
- Respiratory surfaces are normally branched, folded or numerous in quantity to increase the
total surface area
- Respiratory surface has large total surface area to volume (TSA / V) ratio to increase the rate
of diffusion for gaseous exchange
(b) Moist respiratory surfaces
- The respiratory surfaces has a layer of moisture to facilitate the diffusion of oxygen and carbon
dioxide
(a) Thin wall of respiratory surface
- The wall of respiratory surface is only one cell thick to facilitate the diffusion of gases across
the surface
(b) Has a network of blood capillaries
- A network of blood capillaries beneath the respiratory surface (except for protozoa and insects)
