Infographics: Cellular Respiration | Science Class 10 PDF Download

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Cellular Respiration: How Life Creates 
Energy
Imagine your cells as tiny factories that never stop working. They need fuel4like machines 
in a factory4to stay active. This fuel comes from cellular respiration, where your body 
breaks down food to create energy, like a power plant inside each cell!
The key fuel is glucose, a simple sugar from food. Think of it as logs for a fire4packed with 
energy that cells extract efficiently.
Breathing: Getting Oxygen to Your Cells
Your respiratory system is an advanced air delivery system. Air enters through your nose, 
gets filtered and warmed, then moves to your lungs where tiny air sacs called alveoli allow 
oxygen to pass into your blood.
Air Intake
Nose filters and warms 
incoming air using tiny 
hairs and mucus.
Transport
Air travels through throat 
and branching tubes 
protected by cartilage 
rings
Gas Exchange
Oxygen enters blood 
while carbon dioxide 
exits at the alveoli.
Distribution
Hemoglobin carries 
oxygen to every cell in 
your body.
Health Alert: Smoking destroys the tiny hairs (cilia) in your respiratory tract that help 
filter out germs and harmful particles. This damage can lead to infections, persistent 
coughs, and serious diseases like lung cancer. Protect your respiratory system by 
avoiding tobacco products!
The Two Pathways of Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration occurs in two ways4 with or without oxygen. Knowing this explains why 
we breathe and how our muscles work during intense exercise.
The Step-by-Step Process
Understanding how glucose transforms into ATP helps us appreciate the complexity and 
elegance of cellular metabolism. This process involves multiple stages, each carefully 
regulated by enzymes.
Glucose Breakdown
The six-carbon glucose molecule is split into two three-carbon pyruvate 
molecules in the cell's cytoplasm. This initial step releases a small amount of 
energy and doesn't require oxygen.
Pathway Decision
Depending on oxygen availability, pyruvate takes one of several paths: aerobic 
respiration in mitochondria, fermentation to ethanol (yeast), or conversion to lactic 
acid (muscles).
Energy Production
In aerobic conditions, pyruvate enters mitochondria where it's completely 
oxidized, releasing much more ATP. In anaerobic conditions, alternative pathways 
produce less ATP but allow metabolism to continue.
ATP Synthesis
The energy released is captured in ATP molecules4the universal energy currency 
that powers all cellular processes from muscle contraction to protein synthesis.
ATP: Your Body's Energy Currency
Think of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) as your body¾s universal currency. Just like money 
can be spent on anything, ATP powers muscles, nerves, proteins, and many other cell 
functions.
Energy Storage
ATP stores energy in its 
phosphate bonds, ready 
to be released when 
needed.
Universal Fuel
Powers everything from 
muscle movement to 
brain function across all 
your cells.
Renewable 
Resource
Constantly recycled from 
ADP back to ATP using 
energy from respiration
Fun Fact: Your body contains about 37 trillion cells, and each one is performing cellular respiration right 
now! The total amount of ATP your body produces and uses each day is roughly equal to your body 
weight4that's how much energy your cells need to keep you alive and functioning.