Cellular Respiration Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the process of cellular respiration, its stages (aerobic and anaerobic), its applications, and experimental procedures.

Metabolism

The chemical processes in organisms which are controlled by enzymes.

Catabolic

A metabolic process in which complex molecules are broken down into simple ones to release energy.

Anabolic

The synthesis of more complex substances from simple molecules.

Cellular respiration

The chemical process where glucose is broken down gradually, in the presence of oxygen (aerobic respiration) or in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic respiration), to release energy.

Aerobic respiration

Respiration that takes place in the presence of oxygen, occurring inside the cytoplasm and mitochondria of cells.

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen, producing less ATP than aerobic respiration.

Mitochondrion

The organelle and site for respiration in plants and animals; requirements include oxygen and glucose.

ATP

Adenosine Tri-phosphate, the general energy carrier molecule in cells used for growth, movement, and active transport.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration that takes place in the cytoplasm where glucose is broken down into pyruvic acid, releasing a small amount of energy.

Kreb’s cycle

Also known as the citric acid cycle; it occurs inside the mitochondrion matrix, releasing $CO_2$ and high energy hydrogen ions ($H^+$).

Oxidative phosphorylation

The third stage of cellular respiration occurring in the cristae of the mitochondrion where high energy hydrogen atoms pass through enzymes to form ATP.

Phosphorylation

The process of using released energy to combine a phosphate molecule to an ADP molecule to form ATP, represented as: $ADP + P \rightarrow ATP$.

Pyruvic acid

The smaller molecules resulting from the breakdown of glucose during glycolysis.

Lactic acid fermentation

Anaerobic respiration in animal muscle cells during intense exercise that results in the accumulation of lactic acid.

Alcoholic fermentation

The breaking down of glucose in plant or yeast cells in the absence of oxygen, forming ethanol (alcohol) and releasing $CO_2$.

Lactic acid

The acid formed in muscle cells during anaerobic respiration that leads to muscle exhaustion or cramping.

Lime water

A clear solution used to test for carbon dioxide, which turns milky in its presence.

Glycogen

The form in which glucose is stored in animal cells.

Germination

The process where a plant grows from a seed, characterized by a high rate of cellular respiration.

Glowing splint test

An investigation to test for oxygen where a glowing end of a wooden stick re-ignites or glows brighter in the presence of oxygen.

Soda lime

A substance used in experiments to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Sodium hydroxide

A substance that can be added to a solution to remove carbon dioxide found in a liquid.

Paraffin

A thin layer used in anaerobic respiration experiments to cover a sugar solution to prevent oxygen from the air from dissolving into it.

Cristae

The specific internal structure of the mitochondrion where oxidative phosphorylation occurs.

Matrix

The inner part of the mitochondrion where the Kreb's cycle takes place.