Breathing, respiration and gas exchange
I can describe the differences between breathing, respiration and gas exchange.
Breathing, respiration and gas exchange
I can describe the differences between breathing, respiration and gas exchange.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Humans and other animals breathe to move air in and out of their lungs.
- Cells need oxygen from the air for cellular respiration, to provide energy for life processes.
- Cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide as a waste product.
- Oxygen needs to be absorbed into, and carbon dioxide needs to be removed from, the human body.
- In gas exchange, oxygen diffuses from the lungs into the blood; carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the lungs.
Keywords
Breathing - Breathing is the process in which air moves in and out of the lungs.
Lungs - The lungs are a pair of organs found in humans and some other animals.
Cellular respiration - Cellular respiration is a chemical process in cells, which uses sugar as a fuel to provide energy for life processes.
Mitochondria - Subcellular structures, called mitochondria, use sugar and oxygen for cellular respiration.
Gas exchange - The process of oxygen diffusing from the lungs to the blood and carbon dioxide diffusing from the blood to the lungs is called gas exchange.
Common misconception
Breathing and respiration are the same thing.
This lesson explores the differences between breathing, respiration and gas exchange, including what they are and where they take place.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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