7.

1 The Respiratory Process in Energy Production

Chapter 7: Respiration

What is respiration

Respiration refer to the process of obtaining oxygen and delivery it to the cell for cellular respiration and removing carbon dioxide produced by the cells.
Respiration is an important living process that occurs in two main stages : external respiration (physiology) and internal respiration (biochemistry)

External respiration or breathing is a mechanical process that maintain a continuous exchange of gases between the respiratory surfaces and of and organism and its environment. Internal respiration or cellular respiration is the biochemical process in which energy is made available to all living cells.

Energy requirement in living process

All living processes that take place in the body need energy. Energy is required for excretion of waste product muscle contraction which enables locomotion absorption of digested food through active transport

 active transport of biochemical substances transmission of nerves impulses cell division (produced new cell) maintain the body C (warm-blooded) synthesis of lipid, hormones, proteins and enzymes

The main substrate for producing energy

Organic substrate like carbohydrate, lipids and protein contains chemical energy The chemical energy stored in these organic substances enters living organisms in the form of food. it need to be converted into a form of energy which can be readily used by the cells. The main substrate for cellular respiration is glucose animal (from carbohydrate) plant (from photosynthesis)

Energy production in Aerobic Respiration

Aerobic means respiration in the presence O2 Aerobic respiration (cellular respiration) requires a continuous supply of oxygen which is obtained from the air during external respiration. In the cell, glucose molecule are oxidised by oxygen to released energy.

Aerobic respiration involves the oxidation of glucose in the presence of O2 to CO2, H2O and energy. Organisms that respire aerobically are called aerobic organisms. Aerobic respiration releases all the available energy stored within the glucose molecules. Most of energy released is used to synthesis adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

ATP acts as an instant source of energy and the main energy supply to all living cell which drives cellular processes as and when needed

ATP consist phosphate bond which can easily broken down to release energy

Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration means respiration where there is very little O2 or no more O2. Organisms anaerobs. Occurs in the cytoplasm. During vigorous physical activities such as running in a race and brushing a cloth. Rate of respiration and rate of heartbeat increase to deliver more oxygen to muscle cell.

Blood cannot supply oxygen fast enough to meet the demand for ATP oxygen debt. Under this condition, the muscle obtain extra energy from anaerobic respiration. The glucose molecules break down partially to produce lactic acid and energy (less due to incomplete break down of glucose) Glucose lactic acid + 2 ATP mole

The concentration of lactic acid may reach a level high enough to cause muscular cramps and fatigue. The body need rest and recover (to get more oxygen) The excess oxygen is used to oxidise the lactic acid to carbon dioxide and water, which are the excreted. Therefore, oxygen debt is the amount of oxygen needed to remove the lactic acid from the muscle cell Oxidation of lactic acid occurs mainly in liver.

Summary: Respiration: is the release of energy from food, takes place in animal and plant cells. Aerobic Respiration requires: Glucose, Oxygen. Anaerobic Respiration requires: Glucose. Aerobic Respiration produces: Energy, Carbon Dioxide, Water. Anaerobic Respiration produces: Energy (not as much), Carbon Dioxide, Lactic Acid or Alcohol.