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Aerobic Respiration in Animals

Respiration is a catabolic biochemical process which involves the release of energy as a result of the breakdown of complex materials, such as proteins and lipids, within the organism. All the animals depend on food for their living. This food is converted into energy through aerobic respiration by the help of oxygen and the resulting energy is utilized in several bodily functions, repairing damaged tissues and building cells.

  1. Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

    • The majority of animals respire through aerobic respiration, which means that they take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation. On the contrary, there are also some microorganisms which respire without free oxygen. This is known as anaerobic respiration or fermentation.

    Aerobic Respiration and Energy Production

    • After food is consumed, it is broken down into smaller molecules by the enzymes from the pancreas. Blood carries these small food particles to every cell to be used for aerobic respiration to give out energy which powers the cells. Animals get oxygen through breathing, which is essential for aerobic respiration. Breathing movements are of two types--drawing of air into the lungs or inspiration and releasing of air from the lungs through the nose or mouth or expiration. Respired gases are exchanged through membranes, for examples, lungs swap gases between the lungs and blood vessels while in tissues gases are swapped between the cells and bloodstream.

    Aerobic Respiration and Fermentation

    • While aerobic respiration is essential for the production of energy in the organisms, it results in two types of fermentation, alcoholic and lactic acid fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation occurs in fungi such as yeast while lactic acid fermentation does not release carbon dioxide as a result of lactic acid accumulation.

    Products

    • Glycolysis is the initial step of aerobic respiration. It is the enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrate (as glucose). In anaerobic respiration, pyruvic acid is also formed, which is then fermented to lactic acid or ethanol. Aerobic respiration is an efficient physiological process and there is a theoretical yield of 38 ATP molecules from one sugar molecule.

    Significance

    • Aerobic respiration plays an important role in living processes. Plants trap solar energy and convert it into chemical energy for their growth. In animals, aerobic respiration helps breaking down the organic compounds in order to release energy. The energy released in this way is trapped in the form of ATP which is later used by all the energy consuming activities of the cell.

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