Do you know how our body gets energy? Our body gets energy through the process of respiration. In this lesson, we will discuss the process of respiration which takes place in the respiratory system and the types of respiration.
What is Respiration?
Respiration is the breakdown of food molecules which releases energy in our body cells. It is a catabolic process, resulting in the breakdown of glucose molecules.
There are two types of respiration:
Aerobic Respiration
Anaerobic Respiration
Aerobic Respiration:-
Aerobic respiration is the oxidation of food substances in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water and large amount of energy.
The word equation for this reaction is:
Glucose + Oxygen _____ Carbon dioxide + Energy + water
In this process, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are released as waste products. Glucose in the reactants is obtained from the food one eats. This process is catalyzed by enzymes. Mitochondria contains these enzymes and play a very important role in aerobic respiration. During respiration, some of the energy released is in the form of heat to keep your blood warm.
Organisms like trees and humans require more energy so they respire aerobically. However, they sometimes may respire anaerobically when more energy.
Anaerobic Respiration:-
It is the breakdown of food molecules in the absence of oxygen to produce small amount of energy, carbon dioxide and ethanol.
The word equation for this equation is:
Glucose_____ ethanol + carbon dioxide + small amount of energy.
Mainly micro-organisms respire anaerobically that live in areas where less amount of oxygen is present.
Anaerobic respiration in Yeast:
Moreover, some organisms can respire in both ways; aerobically and anaerobically such as
yeast and muscle cells. However, yeast cannot be very active when it undergoes anaerobic respiration or alcoholic fermentation. Glucose molecules are only partially broken down which is why little amount of energy is released.
Anaerobic respiration in Muscle cells:
During vigorous exercise, when your body requires more oxygen, our muscles respire
anaerobically to repay the oxygen debt. However, lactic acid is formed in humans, rather than ethanol (acid), during this process which needs to be removed quickly, so blood takes it to the liver where it is treated.
Here is the word equation for anaerobic respiration in human:
Glucose____ lactic acid+ small amount of energy
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