Respiration: Types, ATP, Human Respiratory System, Videos, Examples

As you are reading this, you are simultaneously breathing in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide. Did you realize this? This is an action that you do continuously. To put it in scientific terms, it is a process called respiration that is happening. Let us explore this life process.

Respiration

Did you know that there are complex chemical reactions that occur inside the human body during this respiration process? This process involves the production of energy due to the various reactions.

The food that you eat gives energy. There are various biochemical reactions that take place to produce this energy. The digested food molecules that are absorbed by the cells in the body undergo oxidation (react with oxygen molecules) to produce energy. Let us learn more about this process and the chemical reactions that occur.

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Types of Respiration

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration are the two types of respiration that occur, based on the presence or absence of oxygen. Respiration process that occurs in the presence of oxygen is called aerobic respiration, generally seen among humans. But in certain organisms like bacteria and algae, respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen, called anaerobic respiration.

In both the types of respiration, it is the glucose (carbohydrate molecule) that undergoes reactions. The following picture shows how glucose gets converted to energy and releases CO2, lactic acid, ethanol, and water, depending on the presence or absence of oxygen.

Respiration in Humans

From the above figure, it is now understood that in humans, aerobic respiration occurs. But, remember that in an emergency situation, anaerobic respiration can also occur in some muscle cells, to maintain the life processes.

So, where does this respiration occur? In the cells of course! And in the cells, the entire chemical process occurs in the mitochondria. Here, the energy that is released is stored in the form of ATP. As and when the need arises, the mitochondria release the stored energy.

What is ATP?

The full form of ATP is Adenosine Triphosphate. It is the energy currency in the cellular respiration. So, when cells of the body require energy for performing the metabolic activities, they use this ATP and break it down to get the required energy.

Respiratory System in Humans

Respiration

The human respiratory system consists mainly of a pair of lungs, trachea, bronchi, and alveoli. Air enters the body through the nostrils. They pass through an air passage called the nasal passage. From here, it enters the pharynx and larynx. The larynx is called the voice box. From the larynx, the air then goes to the trachea, from where they enter the lungs. The trachea has rings of cartilage that prevent the collapse of the trachea when the air is not present.

As the trachea enters the lungs, it divides and forms branches called as bronchi, which enter the two lungs. In the lung, every single bronchus further divides into bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles, there are air sacs present called as the alveoli. Each alveolus comprises of a thin membrane. This is the place where exchanges of gases take place. There is an extensive network of blood capillaries and blood vessels here.

As the air enters our lungs through the nasal passage, the alveoli get filled with air. The oxygen is taken in by the blood vessels in the alveoli. Blood contains a pigment called haemoglobin that has a great affinity to oxygen. The carbon dioxide from the different parts of the body brought here to the alveoli by the blood vessels is then released out.

The whole process of the breathing cycle occurs in a systematic fashion. The lungs also have some residual volume of air. This ensures that there is sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be released.

Respiration