Structure and Function of Living Organisms: Life Processes and Respiration

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering life processes, the mechanics of breathing, gas exchange, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption).

Organism

A living thing that carries out seven (7) life processes.

Movement

A life process in which all organisms can go from place to place, or where some organisms can move only parts of themselves (e.g. plants).

Reproduction

A life process where organisms make more organisms like themselves.

Sensitivity

A life process in which organisms can detect certain changes in their surroundings.

Growth

A life process where organisms increase in size.

Excretion

A life process in which organisms get rid of waste.

Nutrition

Substances that living organisms need to help them respire and grow.

Breathing

The movement of muscles in the diaphragm and muscles attached to the ribs that changes the size of the chest cavity.

Ventilation

The movement of air into and out of the lungs facilitated by breathing.

Gas exchange

The process occurring when lungs fill with air, where oxygen from the air enters the blood and carbon dioxide from blood plasma enters the air in the lungs.

Respiration

The process in which energy is released from substances so it can be used by an organism to do things such as grow, move, and keep warm.

Mitochondria

Cell organelles that use oxygen to release energy stored in glucose through a series of reactions during aerobic respiration.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

A compound to which energy released from glucose is transferred, which subsequently releases energy for the cell as it is needed.

Aerobic Respiration

A form of respiration occurring in mitochondria that requires oxygen, releasing more energy and producing more ATP, but at a slower reaction rate.

Aerobic Respiration Word and Chemical Equation

$\text{Glucose} + \text{Oxygen} \rightarrow \text{Carbon dioxide} + \text{Water}$ ($C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O$).

Anaerobic Respiration

A fast form of respiration occurring in the cytoplasm without oxygen that releases less energy and produces less ATP, helping animals move suddenly and very quickly.

Anaerobic Respiration in Animal Muscles

The reaction $\text{Glucose} \rightarrow \text{lactic acid}$, which occurs during strenuous exercise when oxygen is used up faster than it is replaced.

Fermentation in Yeast Cells

The anaerobic process in yeast represented by the word equation: $\text{Glucose} \rightarrow \text{Carbon dioxide} + \text{ethanol}$.

Lactic acid

A byproduct of anaerobic respiration that builds up in muscle cells and lowers pH, making muscles tire quickly and causing cramps.

Liver (in lactic acid removal)

The organ to which lactic acid is carried by the blood to be converted back into glucose for later respiration.

EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption)

Also called oxygen debt; the extra oxygen needed after exercise to convert lactic acid back to glucose and replace oxygen lost from blood and muscle cells.