Cellular respiration is a fundamental biochemical process where living cells break down glucose (food) to release energy. This energy is stored in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) molecules. In Class 10 Biology under the chapter Life Processes, we study how respiration occurs in different organisms and the pathways through which glucose is broken down.
Respiration is an exothermic and biochemical process.
ATP is the energy currency of the cell.
Aerobic respiration produces 38 ATP per glucose molecule.
Anaerobic respiration produces only 2 ATP per glucose molecule.
Muscle cramps occur due to the accumulation of lactic acid during anaerobic respiration.
Cellular respiration is the process of oxidizing food molecules, like glucose, to carbon dioxide and water. The energy released is trapped in the form of ATP for use by all the energy-consuming activities of the cell. It takes place in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of the cells.
The first step is the breakdown of a 6-carbon glucose molecule into a 3-carbon molecule called pyruvate. This happens in the cytoplasm. Further breakdown depends on oxygen:
ATP stores the energy released during respiration. When the cell needs energy to perform any activity, ATP is broken down to release a fixed amount of energy, acting like a currency.
During heavy exercise, there is a lack of oxygen in our muscle cells. Anaerobic respiration takes place, breaking down pyruvate into lactic acid. The accumulation of lactic acid causes muscle cramps.
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