CLASS 10: CHAPTER 5- LIFE PROCESSES

Respiration
Introduction to Respiration

• Respiration broadly means the exchange of gases.

• Animals and plants have different means of exchange of gases.

• At a cellular level, respiration means the burning of food to generate the energy needed for other
life processes.

• Cellular respiration may take place in the presence or absence of oxygen.

Respiration in Humans

• The human respiratory system is more complex and involves breathing, the exchange of gases and
cellular respiration.

• A well-defined respiratory system helps with breathing and the exchange of gases.

• Breathing involves the inhalation of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon dioxide.

• The gaseous exchange takes place in the lungs, and oxygen is supplied to all cells of the body.

• Cellular respiration takes place in each and every cell.

Respiratory System

• The human respiratory system involves the nose, nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea/windpipe,
bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli.

• Bronchioles and alveoli are enclosed in a pair of lungs.

• The rib cage, muscles associated with the rib cage and diaphragm all help in the inhalation and
exhalation of gases.

• The exchange of gases takes place between an alveolar surface and surrounding blood vessels.

• Alveoli provide a large surface area for the exchange of gases.

• Breathing in humans is facilitated by the action of internal intercostal and external intercostal
muscles attached to the ribs and the diaphragm.

• When the dome-shaped diaphragm contracts and becomes flattened and the rib cage is expanded
due to the action of intercostal muscles, the volume of the lungs increases, pressure there drops
down and the air from outside gushes in. This is inhalation.

• To exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome-shaped again; the chest cavity contracts due
to the action of intercostal muscles, the volume inside the lungs decreases, pressure increases and
the air is forced out of the lungs.

• Inhaled air increases the concentration of oxygen in the alveoli, so oxygen simply diffuses into the
surrounding blood vessels.

• Blood coming from cells has more concentration of carbon dioxide than outside air, and thus
carbon dioxide simply diffuses out of the blood vessels into the alveoli.

• Thus, breathing takes place due to the combined action of intercostal muscles and the diaphragm,
while the exchange of gases takes place due to simple diffusion.

Inhalation and Exhalation

• The process of taking in air rich in oxygen is called inhalation.

• Similarly, the process of giving out air rich in carbon dioxide is called exhalation.

• One breath comprises one inhalation and one exhalation.

• A person breathes several times a day.

• The number of times a person breathes in one minute is termed as his/her breathing rate.

To know more about Inhalation and Exhalation, visit here.

Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of molecules from high concentration area to the low concentration area
without spending any energy.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is set of metabolic reactions occurring inside the cells to convert biochemical energy
obtained from the food into a chemical compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

• Metabolism refers to a set of chemical reactions carried out to maintain the living state of the cells
in an organism. These can be divided into two categories:

• Catabolism – the process of breaking molecules to obtain energy.

• Anabolism – the process of synthesizing all compounds required by the cells.

• Therefore, respiration is a catabolic process which breaks large molecules into smaller ones,
releasing energy to fuel cellular activities.

• Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain are the important processes of cellular
respiration.

PATHWAYS OF GLUCOSE BREAKDOWN

Aerobic respiration is a process in which the food i.e. glucose is converted into energy in the presence of
oxygen.

• The general equation of aerobic respiration as a whole is given below-

Glucose + oxygen ⇒ Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

• This type of respiration takes place in animals, plants and other living organisms.

Respiration in Lower Animals

• Lower animals lack a sophisticated respiratory system like lungs, alveoli etc.

• Respiration in them takes place by simple exchange mechanisms.

• Animals like earthworms take in gases through their skin.

• Fishes have gills for gaseous exchange.

• Insects have a tracheal system, which is a network of tubes through which air circulates and
gaseous exchange takes place.

• Frogs breathe through their skin when in water and through their lungs when on land.
Respiration in yeast: [ ANAEROBIC]

• In absence of oxygen.
• Results in ethanol [ ethyl alcohol] formation.
• Pyruvate gets broken down into ethanol, carbon-dioxide and energy.

Respiration in Muscles [ PARTIAL AEROBIC]

• Respiration in muscles can be anaerobic when there is not enough oxygen.

• Glucose gets broken down into carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

• This results in the accumulation of lactic acid that makes the muscles sore.

• This type of partial aerobic respiration is also known as lactic acid fermentation.

• Cramps in muscles can be relieved by hot water bath that improves circulation and blood and
provides oxygen to muscle cells completing aerobic respiration.

ATP

• It is the energy currency of the cell.

• ATP stands for Adenosine Tri-Phosphate.

• This molecule is created.; as a result, reactions like photosynthesis, respiration etc.

• The three phosphate bonds present in the molecule are high-energy bonds, and when they are
broken, a large amount of energy is released.

• Such released energy is then used for other metabolic reactions.

Respiration in Plants

• Unlike animals and humans, plants do not have any specialized structures for gaseous exchange.

• They have stomata (present in leaves) and lenticels (present in stems), which are involved in the
exchange of gases.

• Compared to animals, plant roots, stems, and leaves respire at a very lower rate.
Transpiration

• Transpiration is a biological process in which water is lost in the form of water vapour from the
aerial parts of the plants.

• This process occurs mainly through the stomata, where the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon
dioxide) occurs.

• Transpiration helps in the transportation of water from roots to the upper parts of plants, and this
is explained by the ‘transpirational pull theory’.

• Loss of water, especially from leaves, acts as a straw effect and pulls water upwards from roots.

• Transpiration also acts as an excretory mechanism in plants as it helps to get rid of excess water.
HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Why Do We Need Lungs?

• In unicellular organisms like amoeba exchange of gases takes place through a general body surface
by osmosis.

• In lower animals like an earthworm, the gaseous exchange takes place through their moist skin.

• The requirement for oxygen is sufficiently met in these ways.

• But as the animal starts becoming more and more complex, for example, humans, the requirement
for oxygen cannot be met alone by diffusion.

• Moreover, diffusion will not be able to supply oxygen to the deep-seated cells.

• This difficulty has led to the evolution of a more complex mechanism of gaseous exchange, and
that is the development of lungs.

• The alveoli present in the lungs provide a large surface area required for the necessary gas
exchange.

• The presence of haemoglobin in the blood which has affinity for oxygen makes it easier for oxygen
to reach every cell through blood .
Respiratory System Parts and Functions

Let us have a detailed look at the different parts of the respiratory system and their functions.

Nose

Humans have exterior nostrils, which are divided by a framework of cartilaginous structure called the
septum. This is the structure that separates the right nostril from the left nostril. Tiny hair follicles that
cover the interior lining of nostrils act as the body’s first line of defence against foreign pathogens.
Furthermore, they provide additional humidity for inhaled air.

Larynx

Two cartilaginous chords lay the framework for the larynx. It is found in front of the neck and is
responsible for vocals as well as aiding respiration. Hence, it is also informally called the voice box. When
food is swallowed, a flap called the epiglottis folds over the top of the windpipe and prevents food from
entering into the larynx.

Pharynx

The nasal chambers open up into a wide hollow space called the pharynx. It is a common passage for air
as well as food. It functions by preventing the entry of food particles into the windpipe. The epiglottis is an
elastic cartilage, which serves as a switch between the larynx and the oesophagus by allowing the passage
of air into the lungs, and food in the gastrointestinal tract.

Have you ever wondered why we cough when we eat or swallow?

Talking while we eat or swallow may sometimes result in incessant coughing. The reason behind this
reaction is the epiglottis. It is forced to open for the air to exit outwards and the food to enter into the
windpipe, triggering a cough.

Trachea

The trachea or the windpipe rises below the larynx and moves down to the neck. The walls of the trachea
comprise C-shaped cartilaginous rings which give hardness to the trachea and maintain it by completely
expanding. The trachea extends further down into the breastbone and splits into two bronchi, one for
each lung.

Bronchi

The trachea splits into two tubes called the bronchi, which enter each lung individually. The bronchi divide
into secondary and tertiary bronchioles, and it further branches out into small air-sacs called the alveoli.
The alveoli are single-celled sacs of air with thin walls. It facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide molecules into or away from the bloodstream.

Lungs

Lungs are the primary organs of respiration in humans and other vertebrates. They are located on either
side of the heart, in the thoracic cavity of the chest. Anatomically, the lungs are spongy organs with an
estimates total surface area between 50 to 75 sq meters. The primary function of the lungs is to facilitate
the exchange of gases between the blood and the air. Interestingly, the right lung is quite bigger and
heavier than the left lung.
Respiratory Tract

The respiratory tract in humans is made up of the following parts:

• External nostrils – For the intake of air.

• Nasal chamber – which is lined with hair and mucus to filter the air from dust and dirt.

• Pharynx – It is a passage behind the nasal chamber and serves as the common passageway for
both air and food.

• Larynx – Known as the soundbox as it houses the vocal chords, which are paramount in the
generation of sound.

• Epiglottis – It is a flap-like structure that covers the glottis and prevents the entry of food into the
windpipe.

• Trachea – It is a long tube passing through the mid-thoracic cavity.

• Bronchi – The trachea divides into left and right bronchi.

• Bronchioles – Each bronchus is further divided into finer channels known as bronchioles.

• Alveoli – The bronchioles terminate in balloon-like structures known as the alveoli.

• Lungs – Humans have a pair of lungs, which are sac-like structures and covered by a double-
layered membrane known as pleura.

Air is inhaled with the help of nostrils, and in the nasal cavity, the air is cleansed by the fine hair follicles
present within them. The cavity also has a group of blood vessels that warm the air. This air then passes to
the pharynx, then to the larynx and into the trachea.

The trachea and the bronchi are coated with ciliated epithelial cells and goblet cells (secretory cells) which
discharge mucus to moisten the air as it passes through the respiratory tract. It also traps the fine bits of
dust or pathogen that escaped the hair in the nasal openings. The motile cilia beat in an ascending
motion, such that the mucus and other foreign particles are carried back to the buccal cavity where it may
either be coughed out (or swallowed.)

Once the air reaches the bronchus, it moves into the bronchioles, and then into the alveoli.

Respiratory System Functions

The functions of the human respiratory system are as follows:

Inhalation and Exhalation

The respiratory system helps in breathing (also known as pulmonary ventilation.) The air inhaled through
the nose moves through the pharynx, larynx, trachea and into the lungs. The air is exhaled back through
the same pathway. Changes in the volume and pressure in the lungs aid in pulmonary ventilation.

Exchange of Gases between Lungs and Bloodstream

Inside the lungs, the oxygen and carbon dioxide enter and exit respectively through millions of
microscopic sacs called alveoli. The inhaled oxygen diffuses into the pulmonary capillaries, binds to
haemoglobin and is pumped through the bloodstream. The carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses into
the alveoli and is expelled through exhalation.

Exchange of Gases between Bloodstream and Body Tissues

The blood carries the oxygen from the lungs around the body and releases the oxygen when it reaches the
capillaries. The oxygen is diffused through the capillary walls into the body tissues. The carbon dioxide
also diffuses into the blood and is carried back to the lungs for release.

The Vibration of the Vocal Cords

While speaking, the muscles in the larynx move the arytenoid cartilage. These cartilages push the vocal
cords together. During exhalation, when the air passes through the vocal cords, it makes them vibrate and
creates sound.

Olfaction or Smelling

During inhalation, when the air enters the nasal cavities, some chemicals present in the air bind to it and
activate the receptors of the nervous system on the cilia. The signals are sent to the olfactory bulbs via
the brain.

Respiration is one of the metabolic processes which plays an essential role in all living organisms.
However, lower organisms like the unicellular do not “breathe” like humans – intead, they utilise the
process of diffusion. Annelids like earthworms have a moist cuticle which helps them in gaseous exchange.
Respiration in fish occurs through special organs called gills. Most of the higher organisms possess a pair
of lungs for breathing.