Internal and External Respiration 08 odd difference you don’t know about it

Introduction of Internal and External Respiration

Internal and External Respiration involve the exchange of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, but occur at different locations within the body. External and internal respiration are two essential procedures in exchanging gases within the body, both of which play an essential part. Internal respiration takes place on a Cellular level where Oxygen is used by cells to create energy through cell respiration while Carbon dioxide is released as the by-product.

This process occurs inside cells, making ATP production possible as well as clearing away waste products from our bodies. Examples of internal respiration can be seen with regard to circulation, respiratory, and muscle systems.

External respiration occurs within the lung through pulmonary ventilation. Here the air is breathed in and exhaled to exchange gases with blood vessels; external respiration provides aid for absorption by bloodstreams from oxygen from air while at the same time expelling carbon dioxide back out into the atmosphere – something often found within cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Importance of respiration in the body

Respiration plays an essential part in human body’s functioning and survival, here is its significance:

  1. Oxygen Supply: Respiration provides oxygen that is essential for energy production in cells. Oxygen plays an essential part in Cellular Respiration processes that convert nutrients to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the body’s primary source of energy.
  2. Removing Carbon Dioxide: Respiration helps rid our bodies of waste carbon dioxide produced through cell metabolism. Carbon dioxide travels back through the bloodstream into the lungs before being exhaled as exhalations occur.
  3. Energy Production: Through cellular respiration, respiration creates ATP. This fuel provides essential energy for physiological processes such as muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and metabolism.
  4. pH Regulation: Respiration Plays an Essential Role in Maintaining Acid-Base Balance in the Body: By controlling carbon dioxide and bicarbonate ion levels in the blood, respiratory regulation ensures a healthy acid-base balance within our bodies and helps avoid acidosis or alkalosis. The exhalation of carbon dioxide affects pH in blood directly thereby helping prevent acidosis or alkalosis occurring in blood and protecting us against future complications like acidosis or alkalosis.
  5. Homeostasis: Respiration plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis within the body, helping regulate body temperature, blood pressure, and the balance between gases, nutrients, and electrolytes. It helps ensure an ideal internal environment.
  6. Respiratory System Function: Respiration is directly tied to the respiratory system, comprising of lungs, airways, and diaphragm. This system helps facilitate gas exchange between our body and external environments allowing oxygen into our systems while carbon dioxide leaves through exhalation.

Definition of Internal Respiration

Internal respiration refers to the process by which cells within our bodies use oxygen for energy production while producing carbon dioxide as part of metabolic reactions in cell metabolism. It takes place at a cellular level and plays an essential part in energy generation as well as supporting other cellular functions.

Internal Respiration

Internal respiration occurs when Oxygen from the bloodstream enters cells where it interacts with glucose and other Nutrients to produce energy in the form of ATP through various Biochemical reactions.

As part of metabolic waste products, carbon dioxide is also generated. Diffusing out from cells into the bloodstream for transport into the lung for external respiration. Internal respiration occurs throughout various tissues and organs in our bodies – including muscles, organs, and the brain – providing the energy needed for cells to perform their individual roles and maintain overall bodily processes.

Internal respiration is an integral process that ensures oxygen reaches cells while carbon dioxide waste is eliminated, providing essential elements necessary for cell metabolism, energy production, and overall body functionality.

Definition of External Respiration

External respiration refers to the process of exchanging gas between the Lungs and their External Environment, usually by inhaling air rich in Oxygen while exhaling carbon dioxide-laden air. External respiration plays a significant role in providing essential oxygen supply while simultaneously clearing away carbon dioxide waste products from our systems.

External Respiration

External respiration should therefore be considered an integral component of respiratory systems that play their part by providing essential oxidizing elements while flushing away excess carbon dioxide emissions from body systems. External respiration involves taking air in through either the nose or mouth and moving through airways into the lungs via inhalation, exhalation, and diffusion processes.

Once inside the lung tissue, oxygen diffuses across thin walls of alveoli (tiny air sacs) into the bloodstream where it attaches to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells to be transported throughout tissues of the body for transporting oxygen throughout body tissues.

As carbon dioxide produced as a waste product of cell metabolism diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli and then exits the body through exhalation, an intricate cycle occurs simultaneously.

External respiration is driven by pressure gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide that are confined to the bloodstream and alveoli, in which oxygen is moved from high partial pressures in alveoli to zones where partial pressures are lower in blood. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide is moved in the opposite direction from areas where the partial pressures of its molecules are high to alveoli, where there are fewer partial pressures.

External respiration is achieved via coordinated action between various respiratory muscles – diaphragm and intercostal muscles in particular – that work in concert to produce changes in lung volume and pressure that facilitate inhaling and exhaling cycles.

External respiration provides oxygen and flushes out carbon dioxide from our bodies to maintain a consistent supply for cell respiration as well as waste elimination from metabolism. It plays an essential part in supporting organ and tissue functioning properly and supporting overall cellular metabolism and homeostasis.

How do they occur? Internal and External Respiration Exchange

Internal Respiration Exchange:

  • Oxygen Transport: Oxygen travels from the lungs into tissues via the bloodstream. Oxygenated blood then flows through the heart and to organs and tissues throughout the body.
  • Cellular Respiration: Within cells, oxygen is drawn in from the interstitial fluid into individual cells via blood circulation. Once in, oxygen plays an important part in cell respiration by reacting with glucose and other nutrients to produce energy (ATP) with water as its end product.
  • Carbon Dioxide Production: Cell metabolism produces carbon dioxide as an unwanted by-product, and then diffuses from these cells into interstitial fluid before entering blood circulation.
  • Carbon Dioxide Diffusion: Hence carbon dioxide becomes part of its natural environment through metabolism, while diffusion allows this gas into interstitial spaces before finally entering circulation as the bloodstream.
  • Carbon Dioxide Transport and Elimination: Carbon dioxide travels through the bloodstream as bicarbonate-ionized Ions (HCO3–) before dissolving in plasma. For its eventual removal, carbon dioxide travels back through bloodstream into the lungs and is then expelled through breathing outside.

External Respiration Exchange:

  • Pulmonary Ventilation: As you inhale oxygen-rich air into your lungs and exhale carbon dioxide-rich air out, diaphragms and respiratory muscles assist this process and contribute to modifications to lung size and pressure.
  • Gas Exchange in the Lungs: When breathing in oxygen, it diffuses across thin alveoli walls into the bloodstream where it binds with hemoglobin in red blood cells and carbon dioxide diffuses back out again to be exhaled from alveoli sacs into air sacs in the lungs, where both gases can then be exhaled from this cycle of exchange.
  • Oxygen Transport: Oxygenated blood is circulated by the heart to deliver it directly into body tissues for cellular respiration, providing sufficient amounts for respiration processes to take place.
  • Transport of Carbon Dioxide: Blood that has been deoxygenated returns to the lungs via veins carrying carbon dioxide-laden blood, exchanged for oxygen by diffusion before exhalation occurs and is eliminated from circulation.

Comparison table of Internal Respiration and External Respiration

Here’s a comparison chart highlighting the key differences between internal and external respiration:

Aspect Internal Respiration External Respiration
Location Occurs within body tissues and cells Takes place in the lungs
Process Cellular respiration Gas exchange between alveoli and environment
Oxygen Utilization Oxygen is used by cells for energy production Oxygen is transported to tissues for use
Carbon Dioxide Removal Carbon dioxide is produced as a waste byproduct Carbon dioxide is exhaled from the lungs
Gas Exchange Site Occurs at the cellular level Occurs at the alveoli in the lungs
Coordination Coordinated with the respiratory and circulatory systems Coordinated with the respiratory and circulatory systems
Purpose Provides energy for cellular processes Supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide
Homeostasis Maintains cellular metabolism and waste removal Maintains oxygen levels and acid-base balance

Similarities between internal and external respiration

There are some similarities between internal and external respiration:

  1. Gas Exchange: Respiration involves exchanging of gases primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide; with oxygen being taken in while carbon dioxide leaves your system through exhalation. In both processes, oxygen enters while CO2 exits.
  2. Oxygen Utilization: Oxygen utilization by the body occurs both through internal and external respiration processes, with internal respiration serving cells for their own metabolic needs such as respiration. Conversely, external respiratory transport delivers it directly to tissues where its metabolic needs arise.
  3. Removal of Carbon Dioxide: Both methods aim at the elimination of carbon dioxide as a waste product from cell metabolism. Internal respiration generates carbon dioxide within cells for external respiration to eliminate.
  4. Coordination Between Respiratory and Circulatory Systems: Both internal and external respiration are intricately linked with respiratory and circulatory systems, respectively. While the respiratory allows exchanges of gases, the circulatory move them around between lung tissues.
  5. Maintenance of Homeostasis: Both internal and external respiration play an integral part in maintaining homeostasis – the balance and equilibrium within our internal environment – by providing oxygen-rich bloodstream to cells while disposing of carbon dioxide effectively, contributing towards overall body functions and wellbeing.

Summary

Respiration is essential to life for humans and must occur both internally and externally, serving different functions in each. Internal respiration occurs at a cellular level where oxygen is utilized by cells for energy production while carbon dioxide waste products accumulate as waste products. External respiration occurs in the lungs and allows exchanges of gases between alveoli and their external environment.

Oxygen from air intake travels to tissues within our body while carbon dioxide escapes by exhalation. Both processes are essential in maintaining oxygen supply, clearing away carbon dioxide waste products, and supporting overall cellular metabolism. They rely heavily on the coordination of respiratory and circulatory systems and play an integral part in maintaining homeostasis and overall bodily functions.

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