Learning Material:

RESPIRATION
PUTRI DYAH ASTARI
4401415092
 RESPIRATION
Most of the processes taking place in cells 4. the process of active transport, involving the
need energy to make them happen. Examples movement of molecules across a cell
of energy-consuming processes in living membrane against a concentration gradient
organisms are:
5. growth of an organism through the
1. the contraction of muscle cells – to create formation of new cells or a permanent
movement of the organism, or peristalsis to increase in cell size
move food along the alimentary canal, or
contraction of the uterus wall during 6. the conduction of electrical impulses by
childbirth nerve cells

2. building up proteins from amino acids 7. maintaining a constant body temperature in

3. the process of cell division – to create more
cells, or replace damaged or worn out cells,
or to make reproductive cells
homoiothermic (warm-blooded) animals –
to ensure that vital chemical reactions
continue at a predictable rate and do not
slow down or speed up as the surrounding
temperature varies.
 RESPIRATION
This energy comes from the food that cells take in. The food mainly used for energy
in cells is glucose. The process by which energy is produced from food is called
respiration.
Respiration is a chemical process that takes place in cells and involves the action of
enzymes. It must not be confused with the process of breathing, which is also
sometimes called ‘respiration’. To make the difference quite clear, the chemical process
in cells is sometimes called cellular respiration, internal respiration or tissue
respiration. The use of the word ‘respiration’ for breathing is best avoided altogether.
 AEROBIC RESPIRATION
The word aerobic means that oxygen is needed Aerobic respiration can be summed up by
for this chemical reaction. Aerobic respiration is the equation:
the term for the chemical reactions in cells that
use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules
to release energy.
The food molecules are combined with oxygen. In the cells, the energy is not released all at
The process is called oxidation and the food is once. The oxidation takes place in a series of
said to be oxidised. All food molecules contain small steps and not in one jump as the
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The equation suggests. Each small step needs its
process of oxidation converts the carbon to own enzyme and at each stage a little
carbon dioxide (CO2) and the hydrogen to water energy is released (Figure 12.1).
(H2O) and, at the same time, sets free energy,
which the cell can use to drive other reactions.
A lt hou gh the energy is used for the pro cesses m enti oned above, so me o f it always
appears as heat. i n ‘war m- blooded’ ani mals ( birds and m a m mals) so me o f this
heat is retained to maintain t heir bod y te mperature . In ‘cold -blooded’ ani mals
( e. g. reptiles and fish ) the heat may build up for a ti me in the bod y and all ow t he
ani mal to move abou t m ore qui c kly. In pla nt s t he heat i s lost to the surroundi ngs
( by co n d uc ti on, co nve c t ion a n d eva porat ion) a s fa st a s i t i s p ro duc ed .
 ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION
Anaerobic respiration is the term for the chemical
reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules
to release energy without using oxygen. In this
process, energy is still released from food by breaking
it down chemically but the reactions do not use
oxygen though they do often produce carbon dioxide.
A common example is the action of yeast on sugar
solution to produce alcohol. The sugar is not
completely oxidised to carbon dioxide and water but
converted to carbon dioxide and alcohol. This process
is called fermentation and is shown by the following
equation:
Anaerobic respiration is much less efficient than
aerobic respiration because it releases much less
energy per glucose molecule broken down (respired).
Anaerobic respiration also occurs in muscles during
vigorous exercise, because oxygen cannot be
delivered fast enough to satisfy the needs of the
respiring muscle cells. The products are different to
those produced by anaerobic respiration in yeast. The
process is shown by the following equation:
glucose → lactic acid
The lactic acid builds up in the muscles and causes
muscle fatigue (cramp).
 THANK YOU 

This learning material

use Biology third edition
that endorsed by
Cambridge International
Examinations IGCSE as
reference.