Cellular+Respiration+Video+Facts

Cellular Respiration Video Facts.

Breathing and respiration are two different things. The respiratory system delivers the oxygen we breathe to the rest of the body. Cellular respiration is what the cells of living things do with oxygen. Why do we need oxygen to survive? Oxygen is used to process glucose a simple sugar that provides all the energy that cells need to function. The digestive system breaks down food into glucose to power cells. Glucose and oxygen are delivered to cells by the blood stream. In cell structures called mitochondria, glucose and oxygen undergo a chemical reaction called respiration. When the reaction is complete three things are left over, energy packed molecule ATP, water, and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide diffuses from cells into the blood, which carries it to the lungs. Breathing out exhales carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a harmful waste gas that must be gotten rid of. Too much carbon dioxide in the blood is fatal. ATP contains energy and cells use it to do everything. The energy in ATP is used by cells to synthesize complex molecules, like DNA, RNA, and Proteins. ATP powers muscle contractions for moving around. Cellular respiration happens in the cells of all living organisms, even plants. Cellular respiration is called aerobic respiration because it uses oxygen. Not enough oxygen is available when exercising hard, so cell get energy from a process called fermentation. Fermentation use carbon dioxide and doesn’t make nearly as much energy as aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration is any process that gets energy from glucose without using oxygen. Yeasts use only anaerobic respiration for making ATP/Energy.