Gas exchange

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Why must organisms constantly synthesize ATP?

Most cells utilize ATP as their primary source of energy, and the high energy phosphate bond is very unstable.

What is the primary biomolecule utilized by cells to synthesize ATP?

Glucose.

What is the primary reaction that occurs at the cellular level to extract ATP from glucose?

Cellular respiration.

What is cellular respiration?

The processes by which organic compounds are oxidized to harvest energy; the primary bi-product is carbon dioxide.

What is the respiratory exchange surface?

The place where oxygen goes in and carbon dioxide goes out.

What is organismal respiration?

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the whole organism and the environment.

How do simpler organisms achieve respiration?

In phyla such as porifera and cnidaria, the plasma membranes of individual cells are the respiratory exchange surfaces.

How do more complex animals achieve respiration?

They develop complex respiratory exchange surfaces that serve to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide between the whole organism and the environment.

What is the respiratory medium?

The component of the environment that carries oxygen to the animal and carries carbon dioxide away from the animal.