Respiration facts for kids

Respiration is a super important process that happens inside every living cell! It's how cells turn the food we eat (or that plants make) into useful energy. Think of it like a tiny power plant inside each cell. This energy helps us do everything, from running and playing to just thinking and growing. Both plants and animals use respiration to get energy from a type of sugar called glucose.

Two Ways Cells Get Energy

There are two main types of respiration, depending on whether oxygen is involved:

Aerobic Respiration: Using Oxygen

This type of respiration happens when there's plenty of oxygen around. It's like burning fuel with lots of air. In aerobic respiration, cells use oxygen to completely break down glucose (the food) into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). This process releases a lot of energy, which the cell can then use for all its activities. Most living things, including humans, use aerobic respiration.

Anaerobic Respiration: Without Oxygen

Sometimes, there isn't enough oxygen available. In these cases, cells can still get some energy through anaerobic respiration. This process breaks down glucose without using oxygen. It doesn't release as much energy as aerobic respiration, and it produces different waste products. For example, in yeast and some bacteria, anaerobic respiration turns glucose into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is how bread rises and how some drinks are made! In our muscles, when we exercise very hard and don't get enough oxygen, anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid, which can make our muscles feel tired.

Where Do Cells Get Their Food?

Cells need food (glucose) to perform respiration.

• Animals get their food by eating! We eat carbohydrates like starch (in potatoes and bread) and sugars (in fruits and sweets). Our bodies then break these down into glucose, which our cells use for energy. When cells release energy, some of it also comes out as heat. This is why our bodies stay warm!
• Plants are amazing because they make their own food! They do this through a process called photosynthesis. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air, water from the soil, and energy from the sun to create their own glucose. Then, they use that glucose for respiration to power their growth and other life processes.

Related Pages

If you want to learn more about how cells get energy, check out these pages:

• Cellular respiration
• Glycolysis
• Link reaction
• Krebs cycle
• Electron transport chain

See also

In Spanish: Respiración (desambiguación) para niños