Breathing and Respiration

The act of breathing is a mechanical one. When an organism breathes, it takes in oxygen from its surroundings and exhales carbon dioxide. Breathing is the process of transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide from external environment to the body’s cells. Pulmonary respiration is another name for this procedure.

Depending on their size and habitat, organisms do external respiration in a variety of ways. For example, any cell membrane allows direct exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the environment. Lungs are the primary organs of breathing in humans and certain animals.

Process Of Breathing

There are two types of breathing processes:

Inhalation or Inspiration: Taking air to the lungs from the environment is termed as Inhalation. It also relies on the internal pressure of the lungs. When the atmospheric air pressure exceeds the pressure in the lungs, air enters the lungs.

Exhalation (expiration): The process of releasing air from the lungs is known as exhalation. When the air pressure in the lungs rises and the atmospheric pressure falls, air is expelled from the lungs into the environment.

Types of Breathing

There are different types, or modes, of breathing that require a slightly different process to allow inspiration and expiration.

1. Eupnea- A way of breathing that happens at rest and does not necessitate the individual’s cognitive processing. The diaphragm and external intercostals must contract during eupnea, often known as silent breathing.
2.  Diaphragmatic breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing is a type of breathing that involves contracting the diaphragm. Air leaves the lungs passively when the diaphragm relaxes. Deep breathing is another name for this type of breathing.
3. Costal breathing: Costal breathing is a type of breathing that needs the intercostal muscles to contract. Air leaves the lungs passively when the intercostal muscles relax. Shallow breathing is another name for this type of breathing.
4. Hyperpnea -Hyperpnea is a kind of breathing that can happen during exercise or other activities that demand active breathing control, such as singing. Muscle contractions cause inspiration and expiration during hyperpnea, commonly known as forced breathing.

Respiration

To undertake various activities and preserve life, all living beings require energy. Food provides this energy, which is acquired through a process known as respiration. Cells in mammals make chemical energy from the degradation of organic compounds, whereas plants produce decomposed food through the photosynthesis process.

As a result, respiration is a crucial metabolic oxidation reaction in which dietary components are oxidised to create carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Types of Respiration

We can distinguish between two forms of respiration based on the presence or absence of oxygen:

Aerobic respiration

Since it uses ‘air,’ which contains oxygen, aerobic respiration is defined as respiration that occurs in the presence of oxygen. The aerobic respiration process uses oxygen to break down chemical bonds in glucose, releasing large quantities of energy. Plants and animals use it as their primary source of energy. Aerobes are animals and plants that breathe using oxygen. Aerobic respiration is used by the majority of animals.

All creatures that get their energy from aerobic respiration can’t survive without it. This is because they can’t acquire energy from the food they eat if there isn’t enough oxygen. Because a full breakdown of glucose happens during respiration with the use of oxygen, aerobic respiration provides more energy.

Anaerobic Respiration

Anaerobic respiration is the process of breathing without the use of oxygen. Incomplete oxidation of food material occurs during this phase, resulting in the production of carbon dioxide and alcohol. Other organic matter is also created, such as citric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, and so on. Intramolecular Respiration is another name for this process. Yeast, certain bacteria, and parasitic worms are examples of creatures that use anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic animals and plants are those that can survive and produce energy in the absence of oxygen.

Yeast is a fungus with only one cell. A single cell in yeast symbolises the entire organism. This process produces a negligible quantity of energy. Yeast breathes anaerobically and converts glucose to alcohol during this process. As a result, it’s used to produce alcohol bread, among other things.

Because anaerobic respiration causes just a partial breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen, it yields far less energy. All organisms that acquire energy through anaerobic respiration may survive in the absence of oxygen.

Difference Between Breathing and Respiration

Conclusion

Breathing is the process of inhaling oxygen from the environment and exhaling carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, whereas cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose into carbon dioxide and water in living cells to provide energy. Respiration is a biological activity, whereas breathing is a physical process.