Cellular Respiration - Internal Respiration

The airways and lungs not only perform the function of purifying and distributing air and exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide, but also play an important role in ensuring cellular respiration. The analogy with combustion and “fuel” is very accurate, since just as a flame needs oxygen to burn, cells need oxygen to convert food nutrients into energy.

Cellular respiration occurs in every cell of our body, in its mitochondria. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between cells and pulmonary alveoli occurs in the same way as between blood capillaries and pulmonary alveoli. Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen through the arteries, and it passes into the cell, while the cell gives the carbon dioxide it has accumulated to the red blood cells. This carbon dioxide enters the pulmonary alveoli through the capillaries and veins, and the cycle ends.

Cellular respiration is a complex process that involves many chemical reactions. The process of oxidation of nutrients in the mitochondria of the cell releases energy necessary to perform various functions of the body. However, for these reactions to occur, the cells must receive sufficient oxygen.

Cellular respiration can be divided into three main stages: glycolysis, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and consists of the decomposition of glucose into pyrivate and the release of a small amount of energy in the form of ATP. The Krebs cycle occurs in mitochondria and consists of the oxidation of pyrivate to carbon dioxide, which releases even more energy in the form of ATP. Oxidative phosphorylation is the process that releases the majority of energy in the form of ATP.

Cellular respiration is an important process for maintaining the vital functions of the body. Lack of oxygen or other disturbances in this process can lead to serious diseases such as hypoxia or acidosis. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a healthy respiratory system and provide sufficient oxygen for cellular respiration.