Respiration in Humans

Do you know why it is important to breathe? Breathing is one form of the body to produce energy for life. Try to note the chart in Picture 1 !

From the picture above you can see that the air entering through the respiratory system will be used for biological oxidation process, which is a process that produces energy by breaking down more complex molecules into simpler molecules, especially the simple sugar molecule is decomposed into carbon dioxide and water vapor. Energy created from the results will be used for biological oxidation processes of life activity, among others, to move, to make growth and development, reproductive processes, and regulate body temperature and other akvifitas life. Well, now you understand why the process of respiration is not important?
This respiration process can take place in two ways, namely respiration
aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

1. Aerob respiration (oxidation)

This process is a solution using the oxygen molecule, the reaction is generally as follows:

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 675 calories

If you look at the process of chemical reaction produces a lot of energy, amounting to 675 calories. In general, under normal circumstances humans using this method.

2. Anaerobic Respiration

This process is not using the oxygen molecules split. The reaction is generally as follows.

C2H5OH → 2C6H12O6 + CO2 + 28 calories

In the process of anaerobic respiration occur molecule solution is not perfect, because it is still produced organic matter so that energy is not liberated all. In the process simply stops until glycolysis and lactic acid is formed, so that the energy produced little result in fatigue and its effects on the body. This process generally occurs at low levels of organisms, namely the yeast and bacteria. In higher organisms, this process took place only in an emergency, when lack of adequate oxygen supply. This occurs
when the muscles work too hard and excess.

Respiration can take place in three stages.

a. Glycolysis

In the process of glycolysis is the case the conversion of glucose to pyruvic acid. Glycolysis reaction is as follows.

C6H12O6 → pyruvic acid + 2 ATP + 2 NADH2

Reaction of the above took place in the cytoplasm and is anaerobic. This reaction releases energy to produce ATP and NADH2. Pyruvic acid produced in the above process is converted into acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria. Once converted into acetyl-CoA, it will enter into the Krebs cycle.

b. Krebs cycle

Krebs cycle is a series of reactions that convert acetyl CoA to CO2 by the process of oxidation. In the previous reaction, namely glycolysis reaction has produced pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid formed can enter the Krebs cycle, after reacting with NAD + and Co-enzyme A to form acetyl Co-A compounds.

Krebs cycle can be seen in the process below!

c. Electron Transport Chain

Electron transport occurs in the mitochondria which generate a lot of ATP. Generate ATP reaction involving electron carrier system. In this reaction that is important is NADH, FAD, and specific molecules in respiration, among others, co-enzyme A, flavoprotein, and cytochrome. The end result of the electron transport reaction is H2O.The reaction can be written as follows.

10 NADH + 5 O2 ----> 10 NAD + + 10 H2O + 30 ATP
2 FADH2 + O2 ----> 2 FAD + 2 H2O + 4 ATP