Question / Answer
Practice for RESPIRATION
• How are the lungs designed to maximise the area for
exchanging gases in humans?
• Answer : The air passage in the lungs is divided into
smaller tubes called bronchi which form bronchioles. The
bronchioles terminate in balloon-like structures called
alveoli. These alveoli provide maximum area for the
gaseous exchange. The alveoli walls are very thin and
contain an extensive network of blood vessels to facilitate
the exchange of gases.
• What are the ways of glucose oxidation to provide energy in
different organisms?
• Answer : There are two types of respiration for oxidising glucose,
i.e., aerobic and anaerobic respiration. In aerobic respiration, the
complete oxidation of glucose takes place. The optimum output of
energy is obtained. Oxygen is required for this process.
• In anaerobic respiration, the process takes place in the absence of
oxygen. The complete oxidation of glucose does not take place.
Bacteria exhibit this process. In our calf muscles, sometimes
anaerobic respiration takes place.
• Explain the breakdown of glucose in a cell in the presence and absence of oxygen.
• Answer : Glucose can be broken down in three different ways.
• In the absence of oxygen, like in Yeast, pyruvate is converted to ethanol, carbon dioxide and energy. This
is called fermentation.
• In the case of insufficient oxygen, like in muscle cells, pyruvate converts to produce lactic acid and
energy.
• In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted into carbon dioxide, water and energy in mitochondria.
• Ethanol is a two-carbon molecule, and lactic acid is a three-carbon molecule.
• The first step, glucose breakdown in both the presence and absence of oxygen, is the same. More energy
is released in the presence of oxygen.
• In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic respiration occurs in the muscle cells. The building of lactic acid in
muscle cells causes painful muscle contraction, called cramps.
• Diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen requirement of
multicellular organisms like human. State reason.
Answer:
Due to higher metabolic rate and the volume of human body is so
large that oxygen cannot diffuse into all cells of the body quickly as
oxygen will have to travel large distances to reach each and every
cell. So, diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen demand of
multicellular organisms.
Give difference between plant
and animal respiration
Plant respiration Animal respiration
(i) All parts of plants,
like roots, stem and leaves, Animal performs respiration
perform respiration as a single unit.
individually.
(ii) There is little Respiratory gases are
transport of respiratory usually transported over
gases from one part to the long distance inside an
other during respiration. animal during respiration.
(iii) Respiration occurs at It is a fast process in
a very slow rate. animals.
Gases are transported by
(iv) There is no special gas
specialised blood vascular
transport system.
system.
(v) Respiratory organ in
• (a) Draw a diagram of human respiratory system and label: Trachea, Bronchi and Diaphragm.
(b) Give reasons for the following:
(i) Lungs always contain residual volume.
(ii) Nostrils are lined with mucus.
Answer:
• (b) (i) Lungs always contain residual volume so that during the breathing cycle, when air is inhaled
and exhaled, there must be sufficient time for oxygen to be absorbed and for the carbon dioxide to be
released. It is also important as it prevents the lungs from collapsing.
•
(ii) Mucus and hair present in nostrils help in filtration of inhaled air. It traps harmful substances and
germs present in air.
Rate of breathing is higher in
aquatic organisms as compared to
terrestrial organisms. Why?
The rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than in
terrestrial organisms because the amount of dissolved oxygen is
fairly lower in water than air and also that aquatic organisms like
the fishes obtain oxygen from water present in the dissolved state.
Since the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water is very much less
as compared to the quantity of oxygen present in the air aquatic
animals can breathe only dissolved oxygen, so to fulfill the need of
required amounts of oxygen to the body cells for proper functioning
the aquatic animals have to breathe faster as compared to
terrestrial animals.
