Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School

Modern Delhi Public School, Greater Faridabad

Biology Handout

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Class - VII

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TOPIC : RESPIRATION IN ORGANISMS
Our body needs energy for its various activities. The energy is produced in our body from the

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food we take. The food reacts with oxygen of the air to release energy and carbon dioxide.
Every cell must obtain energy, hence they need food and oxygen. The process of taking oxygen
into the cells, oxidation of food with this oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and energy is

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called respiration. Respiration is a biochemical process. It involves:
• intake of oxygen from the environment.
• oxidation of food (glucose) with the help of oxygen taken in.
• release of energy and carbon dioxide.
• elimination of carbon dioxide.

TYPES OF RESPIRATION
There are two types of respiration:
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Respiration is thus the fundamental process of energy release in our body.
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1. Aerobic Respiration
Respiration that takes place in presence of oxygen is termed as aerobic respiration.
Glucose is completely oxidized to form carbon dioxide and water.
Glucose + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
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(in the cell) (in the inhaled air)

2. Anaerobic Respiration
Respiration that takes place in the absence of air/oxygen is called anaerobic respiration.
Here, glucose is converted into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is commonly called
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as fermentation.
Glucose absence of air / oxygen Ethyl Alcohol + Carbon Dioxide + Energy

(in the cell)
Difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
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A few points of differences between aerobic and anaerobic respirations are given below:

Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

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Occurs in the presence of oxygen/ air. Occurs in the absence of oxygen/air.

Glucose is oxidized to ethyl alcohol and
Glucose gets completely oxidized to
carbon dioxide (in cells) or lactic acid (in
carbon dioxide and water.
muscles).
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Occurs in Yeast, bacteria and parasitic

Occurs in most plants and animals.
worms.
Energy released is lesser than that
More energy is produced.
produced during aerobic respiration.
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Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School
Anaerobic Respiration in Muscles

Our muscle cells can also respire anaerobically. During vigorous muscular activities, like fast

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running, cycling, brisk walking or heavy weight lifting, the demand for energy is more but the

supply of oxygen to produce the energy is limited.

To fulfill the demand of extra energy, anaerobic respiration takes place in our muscle cells in the

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absence of oxygen. The food (glucose) breaks down into lactic acid and releases some energy.
in the absence of oxygen
Glucose in themuscle cells Lactic Acid + Energy

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The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle cells causes muscle cramps or fatigue. We

can get relief from the cramps after a hot water bath or gentle massage with lukewarm oil. This

increases the circulation of blood in these muscles. As oxygen rich blood reaches the muscles,

lactic acid further breaks down to form carbon dioxide and water, hence giving us relief from

cramps.

Respiration in Humans bl i
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The human respiratory system consists of

the following organs : nose, no strils,

nasal cavity, trachea (windpipe), lungs,

bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli.

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Nose and Nasal Passage

We breathe air through nose or nostrils. The nostrils open into nasal passage. Here air is
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filtered, warmed and moistened before entering the lungs.

Trachea or Windpipe
The air from the nasal passages reaches the lungs
through trachea. It is divided into two bronchi
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which enter each lung. Inside the lungs, bronchi

divide and redivide into bronchioles which further
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divide and finally end into air sacs or alveoli.

Lungs
Lungs are a pair of spongy, highly elastic, bag like
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structure. They are enclosed in a tight thoracic

cavity which is formed of backbone, ribs and

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Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School
sternum. A large muscular diaphragm forms the
floor of the thoracic cavity and separates it from

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the abdominal cavity. Lungs have numerous thin-
walled and tiny air sacs called alveoli (singular :
alveolus). The surface of alveolus is covered with

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a thin network of blood capillaries. When we breathe
in, each alveoli gets filled with fresh air. Oxygen
from this air enters the blood capillaries and carbon dioxide from blood diffuses out into the air.

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Process of Respiration
The process of respiration occurs in the following steps:
• Breathing Taking air in and expelling from the lungs..

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• External Respiration Exchange of gases between the air and the blood (in the lungs).
• Internal Respiration Exchange of gases between the blood and the body cell.
• Cellular Respiration Breakdown of glucose inside the body cells to liberate energy..
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Mechanism of Breathing
The process of taking in fresh air for getting oxygen and giving out used air rich is carbon
dioxide is called breathing. It is a physical or mechanical process which involves pumping air
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into and out of the lungs.

The mechanism of breathing involves two steps:
• Inhalation or Inspiration – Taking in air rich in oxygen into the lungs.
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• Exhalation or Expiration – Giving out air rich in carbon dioxide from the lungs.
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Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School
During Inhalation
• The ribs are raised upwards and outwards by the contraction of rib muscles and the

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diaphragm moves down.

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• The volume of thoracic cavity and lungs increases and the air pressure inside the lungs
decreases.
• Air from the atmosphere having higher pressure rushes into the lungs through nostrils

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and air passage and the lungs get filled with fresh air.
During Exhalation
• The ribs move downward and inward and the diaphragm moves up.

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• The volume of thoracic cavity and the lungs decreases and the air pressure inside the
lungs increases.
• Air from lungs is pushed out through air passages and nostrils.
Difference between Inhalation and Exhalation

Sr. No.

1
Parameters

Movement of air
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Inhalatiion Exhalation

Air rich in oxygen flows into Air rich in carbon dioxide is

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the lungs. forced out of the lungs.

Ribs move upwards and Ribs move downwards and

2 Movement of ribs
outwards. inwards.
Diaphragm contacts and Diaphragm relaxes and
3 Movement of diaphragm
moves downwards. moves upwards.
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Volume of chest cavity Volume of chest cavity

4 Volume of chest cavity
increases. decreases.
Lungs expand, volume Lungs contract, volume
5 Lungs
increases. decreases.
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Breathing Rate
The process of inhalation and exhalation occurs continuously and alternately. One breath consists
of one inhalation and one exhalation. The number of times a person breathes in a minute is
termed as breathing rate. The normal breathing rate is 15-18 times/minutes. It can increase
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upto 25 times per minute during fast running and heavy exercise.
External Respiration
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During external respiration, oxygen enters the blood from the alveoli and combines with
haemoglobin (the respiratory pigment in the RBCs). They form a temporary compound called
oxyhaemoglobin. Carbon dioxide from the blood enters the alveoli of lungs and is exhaled out.
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Internal Respiration
On reaching the cells, oxyhaemoglobin breaks down to release the trapped oxygen. The released
oxygen diffuses into the cells. Carbon dioxide from the cells enters the blood.

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Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School
Cellular Respiration
It is the chemical breakdown of glucose inside the cells. During cellular respiration, glucose is

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oxidized and produces carbon dioxide, water and energy.

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in presence of O2
Glucose Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
(in the cells)
Differences between Breathing and Respiration

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Sr. No. Parameters Breathing Cellular Respiration

It is a physical process in which

It is a biochemical process in

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exchange of gases (oxygen and
1 Process which the breakdown of food
carbon dioxide) takes place. No
takes place.
chemical reaction takes place.

2 Energy Energy is not released. Energy is released.

3 Occurrence It occurs outside the cells. It occurs inside the cells.

4 Enzymes
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Enzymes are not involved.
Enzymes are involved at certain
stages of respiration.
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Respiration in other animals

Birds, Mammals Frog Insects (Grasshopper,

A nimal Fish Amphibians
(on land) Cockroach)
Respiratory
Gills Lungs Trachea, Spiracles Skin, Lungs
organ
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A) Respiration in Earthworm (Cutaneous Respiration)

Earthworm and Leeches breathe only through the skin. Their skin
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is moist and slimy with numerous blood capillaries. The exchange

of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs between the air and blood
in the skin. This is called cutaneous respiration.
[A frog has lungs just like us, but it breathes through its skin
when in water (cutaneous respiration). Its skin is kept moist due to mucus secretions]
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B) Respiration in Cockroach and other Insects (Tracheal Respiration)

The respiratory organs in insects are branched air tubes called trachea. The air
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tubes from a fine network inside their body and are in contact with the cells. They
open on the body surface through spiracles.
The spiracles open and close to allow the respiratory gases move in and out of
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the air tubes. Oxygen rich air enters the tracheal tubes through spiracles, diffuses
into the body tissue and reaches every cell of the body. In the same way, carbon
dioxide from the cells goes into tracheal tubes and diffuses out through spiracles.

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Class - VII (Biology Handout) Modern Delhi Public School
Respiration in Fish (Aquatic Respiration)
Fish and other aquatic animals respire through special organs called gills. They obtain the

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oxygen dissolved in water when it passes over the

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gills. Gills are projections of skin. These are formed
of a large number of gill filaments with a network
of fine blood capillaries and the carbon dioxide
present in the blood is released into the water.

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Respiration in Plants
Plants respire like all other organisms. Each plant cell uses glucose and oxygen and releases

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carbon dioxide, water and energy. Plants do not have special respiratory organs to obtain oxygen
from atmosphere. Transport of gases in plants takes place by the process of diffusion. Different
parts of a plant have different methods of obtaining oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

In leaves
The leaves take in air (oxygen) and release
carbon dioxide through tiny pores called stomata.
So respiration occurs through stomata in leaves.
In Stems
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Young green stems respire through stomata as
in leaves. In old woody stems, lenticels develop
below the bark which help in gaseous exchange.
In Roots
In roots, the root hairs extend into the air spaces present between the soil particles and take up
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oxygen from there.

Differences between Respiration and Photosynthesis
The main difference between the two process are given below:
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Respiration Photosynthesis
During respiration, products of During photosynthesis, green plants
digestion such as glucose react with prepare glucose from carbon dioxide
1. 1.
oxygen to form carbon dioxide, water and water in the presence of sunlight
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and energy is released. and chlorophyll.

In respiration, chemical energy is In photosynthesis, light energy is
2. 2.
converted into heat energy. converted into chemical energy.
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During respiration, oxygen is absorbed During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide

3. 3.
and carbon dioxide is released. is absorbed and oxygen is given out.
Respiration takes place inside the Photosynthesis takes place in green
4. body of human/animal in the presence 4. leaves only in the presence of sunlight
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of enzymes. and chlorophyll.

Respiration takes place both during Photosynthesis takes place only
5. 5.
the day and the night. during the day time.

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