Define respiration . differentiate between blood and lymph
Define respiration . differentiate between blood and lymph
respiration
When you hear the word 'respire,' you probably think of breathing. When you breathe, you are taking in oxygen with each inhale and releasing carbon dioxide with each exhale. This gas exchange is important for respiration, but while breathing is a physical process, respiration can be thought of as more of a chemical process. All organisms, from a single bacterial cell to a coral reef colony to a blue whale, undergo respiration.
Food molecules absorbed after digestion are taken in, broken down, and the energy freed in the process is used to power the organism's movements and physiological functioning. Respiration is the biochemical process in which the cells of an organism obtain energy by combining oxygen and glucose, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (the currency of energy in cells).
When we examine the equation for cellular respiration, we see that the reactants are glucose and oxygen (for aerobic respiration), and the products are carbon dioxide, water, and ATP. Note the number of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water molecules involved in each 'turn' of the process.
Lymph vs Blood
You must have come across the term lymph at some point in your life. How often did your mother check for swollen lymph nodes when you had an infection? Though blood and lymph have a number of parallel activities, there are a number of differences between the two. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- The most obvious difference is of course a lack of a pump in a lymphatic system. The blood throughout our body is pumped by the heart-the most powerful muscle in the human body. However, the lymphatic system does not have any such system. It flows through the veins in a passive manner. The liquids are pushed along the system by the normal movements of the body.
- Another very important difference between the two relate to their functions. Blood flows through our veins and carries oxygen to all parts of the body. The lymphatic system in fact removes the waste and other products that are released in the tissues.
- The blood in our body flows in a continuous cycle. It is in the form of a cycle. The oxygen deprived blood is carried to the heart and replenished with oxygen. After this, the same blood is channeled throughout the body. However, the lymph flows in a different manner. It flows from the tissue into the lymphatic system. However, once it gets into the vessels, the lymph can only flow in one direction.
- The constituents of blood are different from those of lymph. Blood consists of liquid plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The filtered lymph that is channeled into the cardiovascular system is more like a milky white or clear liquid.
- Any injury on the surface of the body causes the spurting of blood. So it is something that you can see. However, it is very difficult to observe damage to the lymphatic system unless you are confronted by swollen lymph nodes.
- The blood is purified in the kidney. In the kidneys, the waste products are absorbed and excess liquids are removed. Once this is done, the essential liquids are returned to the cardiovascular system. However, the lymph system is self sufficient. The lymph nodes located throughout the body remove the waste and kill some of the pathogens.
respiration
When you hear the word 'respire,' you probably think of breathing. When you breathe, you are taking in oxygen with each inhale and releasing carbon dioxide with each exhale. This gas exchange is important for respiration, but while breathing is a physical process, respiration can be thought of as more of a chemical process. All organisms, from a single bacterial cell to a coral reef colony to a blue whale, undergo respiration.
Food molecules absorbed after digestion are taken in, broken down, and the energy freed in the process is used to power the organism's movements and physiological functioning. Respiration is the biochemical process in which the cells of an organism obtain energy by combining oxygen and glucose, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (the currency of energy in cells).
When we examine the equation for cellular respiration, we see that the reactants are glucose and oxygen (for aerobic respiration), and the products are carbon dioxide, water, and ATP. Note the number of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water molecules involved in each 'turn' of the process.
Lymph vs Blood
You must have come across the term lymph at some point in your life. How often did your mother check for swollen lymph nodes when you had an infection? Though blood and lymph have a number of parallel activities, there are a number of differences between the two. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- The most obvious difference is of course a lack of a pump in a lymphatic system. The blood throughout our body is pumped by the heart-the most powerful muscle in the human body. However, the lymphatic system does not have any such system. It flows through the veins in a passive manner. The liquids are pushed along the system by the normal movements of the body.
- Another very important difference between the two relate to their functions. Blood flows through our veins and carries oxygen to all parts of the body. The lymphatic system in fact removes the waste and other products that are released in the tissues.
- The blood in our body flows in a continuous cycle. It is in the form of a cycle. The oxygen deprived blood is carried to the heart and replenished with oxygen. After this, the same blood is channeled throughout the body. However, the lymph flows in a different manner. It flows from the tissue into the lymphatic system. However, once it gets into the vessels, the lymph can only flow in one direction.
- The constituents of blood are different from those of lymph. Blood consists of liquid plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The filtered lymph that is channeled into the cardiovascular system is more like a milky white or clear liquid.
- Any injury on the surface of the body causes the spurting of blood. So it is something that you can see. However, it is very difficult to observe damage to the lymphatic system unless you are confronted by swollen lymph nodes.
- The blood is purified in the kidney. In the kidneys, the waste products are absorbed and excess liquids are removed. Once this is done, the essential liquids are returned to the cardiovascular system. However, the lymph system is self sufficient. The lymph nodes located throughout the body remove the waste and kill some of the pathogens.
