RESPIRATION

Respiratory System, in anatomy and physiology, organs that deliver

oxygen to the circulatory system for transport to all body cells. Oxygen
is essential for cells, which use this vital substance to liberate the
energy needed for cellular activities. In addition to supplying oxygen,
the respiratory system aids in removing of carbon dioxide, preventing
the lethal buildup of this waste product in body tissues. Day-in and dayout, without the prompt of conscious thought, the respiratory system
carries out its life-sustaining activities. If the respiratory systems tasks
are interrupted for more than a few minutes, serious, irreversible
damage to tissues occurs, followed by the failure of all body systems,
and ultimately, death.
While the intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide are the
primary functions of the respiratory system, it plays other important
roles in the body. The respiratory system helps regulate the balance of
acid and base in tissues, a process crucial for the normal functioning of
cells. It protects the body against disease-causing organisms and toxic
substances inhaled with air. The respiratory system also houses the cells
that detect smell, and assists in the production of sounds for speech.

THE CONCEPT OF RESPIRATION IS

CENTRAL TO ALL LIVING PROCESSES
It is worth while studying this presentation
thoroughly because it is essential for an
understanding of all the activities of living
cells and organisms

One example of respiration in ourselves

2.

The lungs absorb oxygen

from the air
2.The

stomach and
intestine digest food.
One of the products
is glucose

RESPIRATION

Glucose and
oxygen react to
produce energy
for muscle
contraction

1.

15

Air taken in

1.Food

3.The

taken in

blood stream
carries glucose and
oxygen to the
muscles
5 Carbon dioxide
is carried to the lungs
by the blood

Absence
of
oxygen
(In yeast)

Glucose

In
cytoplasm

(6-carbon molecules)

pyruvate

Lack of
oxygen

(in our muscle

(3-carbon
cells)
molecule+energy)

Presence
of
oxygen

Ethonal+Carbon dioxide+Energy
(2-carbon molecules)

Lactic acid+Energy
(3-carbon molecules)

Carbon dioxide+Water+Energy

(in mitochondria)

Break-down of pyruvate using oxygen takes place in

mitochondria. This process breaks up the threecarbon pyruvate molecules to give three molecules
of carbon dioxide. The other product is water.
Since this process takes place in the presence of air
(oxygen), it is called aerobic respiration.
Sometimes, when there is a lack of oxygen in our
muscle cells, another pathways for the break-down
of pyruvate is taken. Here the pyruvate is
converted into lactic acid which is also a threecarbon molecules. This build-up of lactic acid in our
muscles during sudden activity causes cramps.

Aquatic respiration is the process

whereby an aquatic animal obtains
oxygen from water.

The amount of dissolved Oxygen is fairly low compared to

The amount of Oxygen in the air. The rate of breathing in
Aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial
Organisms. Fishes take in water through their mouths and
Force it past the gills where the dissolved is taken up by blood