WHAT IS RESPIRATION ?(Aerobic, Anaerobic)

Respiration is the process in which energy in food is made available to a cell to allow the necessary work to keep said cell alive. This process can either be Aerobic or Anaerobic depending on the organism and circumstances presented.

Aerobic Respiration:

This is primarily known when the process of respiration includes the use of Oxygen. In Humans, the process or formula for this is:

$C6 H12 O6 +  6O2   = Energy +      6CO2      + 6H2O$

Glucose + Oxygen = Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water

During Aerobic Respiration, Glucose is completely broken down (oxidized) into Carbon Dioxide and water. This occurs in the organelle known as the mitochondrion.

When glucose combines (oxidizes) with oxygen to release energy, it forms the waste product of Carbon Dioxide. In animals (vertebrates) it diffuses into the bloodstream, is taken to the lungs, and is exhaled out of the body.

In plants, it is used for photosynthesis during the day.

Energy is made in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

This is the primary energy currency for all living cells. The energy stored in ATP is released when it is converted back into ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate)

Anaerobic Respiration in Humans:

Humans normally respire aerobically; however, during strenuous exercise, the body may not be able to supply enough energy to the muscle cells for the extra work that they are doing. In this situation, the Breathing Rate & Heart Rate is increased as an attempt to get more oxygen to the cells; this causes sweating to help lose some of the extra energy as heat.

Increased respiration produces a lot of heat that is lost in the skin.

After a while, the oxygen supply is just simply inadequate, the muscle cells will begin to respire anaerobically. Energy is still produced; however, it is in a much smaller amount for each molecule of glucose.

A waste product of this process is Lactic Acid; this builds up in muscle cells and causes them to ache (fatigue). Oxygen is used to break down this waste product into a glucose-like chemical that can be broken down aerobically.

The oxygen required to be rid of this lactic acid is known as an Oxygen Debt.