Respiration
Aerobic respiration Respiration that uses oxygen is called aerobic respiration. The formula for aerobic respiration is: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water Aerobic respiration releases a lot of energy from glucose slowly. It happens mostly in mitochondria, which are tiny parts of the cells in the cytoplasm. Cells that need more energy, such as sperm cells or muscle cells, have more mitochondria.
Respiration is a process that breaks down glucose to release energy in every cell of the human body. It is different from ventilation, which is breathing. Without respiration, cells would die.
Anaerobic respiration glucose → lactic acid Anaerobic respiration produces less energy than aerobic respiration, but it does it faster. However, it also makes lactic acid, which accumulates in the muscles and causes pain, tiredness, and cramps. After intense exercise, people keep breathing fast and deep for a while. This is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption or EPOC. It used to be called ‘oxygen debt.’ During this time, oxygen reacts with lactic acid to make carbon dioxide and water, and release the rest of the energy from glucose. Comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration Aerobic respiration Glucose, oxygen Carbon dioxide, water Slow More Anaerobic respiration Glucose Lactic acid Fast Less
When the body’s cells do not get enough oxygen during intense exercise, they switch from aerobic to anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration has this formula:
Reactant(s)
Products(s)
Rate of reaction
Energy released
Summary: