A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

The ability to do work.

A chemical reaction that releases energy through light or heat.

Created by: CK-12/Adapted by Christine Miller

This inviting camp fire can be used for both heat and light. Heat and light are two forms of energy that are released when a fuel like wood is burned. The cells of living things also get energy by "burning." They "burn" glucose in a process called cellular respiration.

Cellular respiration is the process by which living cells break down glucose molecules and release energy. The process is similar to burning, although it doesn’t produce light or intense heat as a campfire does. This is because cellular respiration releases the energy in glucose slowly and in many small steps. It uses the energy released to form molecules of ATP, the energy-carrying molecules that cells use to power biochemical processes. In this way, cellular respiration is an example of energy coupling: glucose is broken down in an exothermic reaction, and then the energy from this reaction powers the endothermic reaction of the formation of ATP.  Cellular respiration involves many chemical reactions, but they can all be summed up with this chemical equation:

C₆H₁₂O₆  6O₂ → 6CO₂  6H₂O Chemical Energy (in ATP)

In words, the equation shows that glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) react to form carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O), releasing energy in the process. Because oxygen is required for cellular respiration, it is an aerobic process.

Cellular respiration occurs in the cells of all living things, both autotrophs and heterotrophs. All of them burn glucose to form ATP. The reactions of cellular respiration can be grouped into three stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (also called the citric acid cycle), and electron transport. Figure 4.10.2 gives an overview of these three stages, which are also described in detail below.

The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysisno post, which happens in the cytosol of the cytoplasm.

Splitting Glucose

The word glycolysis literally means “glucose splitting,” which is exactly what happens in this stage. Enzymes split a molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate (also known as pyruvic acid). This occurs in several steps, as summarized in the following diagram.

Results of Glycolysis

Energy is needed at the start of glycolysisno post to split the glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules which go on to stage II of cellular respiration. The energy needed to split glucose is provided by two molecules of ATP; this is called the energy investment phase. As glycolysis proceeds, energy is released, and the energy is used to make four molecules of ATP; this is the energy harvesting phase. As a result, there is a net gain of two ATP molecules during glycolysis. During this stage, high-energy electrons are also transferred to molecules of NAD  to produce two molecules of NADH, another energy-carrying molecule. NADH is used in stage III of cellular respiration to make more ATP.

Transition Reaction

Before pyruvate can enter the next stage of cellular respiration it needs to be modified slightly.  The transition reaction is a very short reaction which converts the two molecules of pyruvate to two molecules of acetyl CoA, carbon dioxide, and two high energy electron pairs convert NAD to NADH.  The carbon dioxide is released, the acetyl CoA moves to the mitochondria to enter the Kreb's Cycle (stage II), and the NADH carries the high energy electrons to the Electron Transport System (stage III).

Before you read about the last two stages of cellular respiration, you need to know more about the mitochondrion, where these two stages take place. A diagram of a mitochondrion is shown in Figure 4.10.5.

As you can see from the figure, a mitochondrion has an inner and outer membrane. The space between the inner and outer membrane is called the intermembrane space. The space enclosed by the inner membrane is called the matrix. The second stage of cellular respiration (the Krebs cycle) takes place in the matrix. The third stage (electron transport) happens on the inner membrane.

Recall that glycolysisno post produces two molecules of pyruvate (pyruvic acid), which are then converted to acetyl CoA during the short transition reaction. These molecules enter the matrix of a mitochondrion, where they start the Krebs cycle (also known as the Citric Acid Cycle). The reason this stage is considered a cycle is because a molecule called oxaloacetate is present at both the beginning and end of this reaction and is used to break down the two molecules of acetyl CoA.  The reactions that occur next are shown in Figure 4.10.6.

The Krebs cycle itself actually begins when acetyl-CoA combines with a four-carbon molecule called OAA (oxaloacetate) (see Figure 4.10.6). This produces citric acid, which has six carbon atoms. This is why the Krebs cycle is also called the citric acid cycle.

After citric acid forms, it goes through a series of reactions that release energy. The energy is captured in molecules of NADH, ATP, and FADH₂, another energy-carrying coenzyme. Carbon dioxide is also released as a waste product of these reactions.

The final step of the Krebs cycle regenerates OAA, the molecule that began the Krebs cycle. This molecule is needed for the next turn through the cycle. Two turns are needed because glycolysis produces two pyruvic acid molecules when it splits glucose.

Results of the Glycolysis, Transition Reaction and Krebs Cycle

After glycolysis, transition reaction, and the Krebs cycle, the glucose molecule has been broken down completely. All six of its carbon atoms have combined with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. The energy from its chemical bonds has been stored in a total of 16 energy-carrier molecules. These molecules are:

• 4 ATP (2 from glycolysis, 2 from Krebs Cycle)
• 12 NADH (2 from glycolysis, 2 from transition reaction, and 8 from Krebs cycle)
• 2 FADH₂ (both from the Krebs cycle)

The events of cellular respiration up to this point are exergonic reactions- they are releasing energy that had been stored in the bonds of the glucose molecule.  This energy will be transferred to the third and final stage of cellular respiration: the Electron Transport System, which is an endergonic reaction.  Using an exothermic reaction to power an endothermic reaction is known as energy coupling.

 ETC, the final stage in cellular respiration produces 32 ATP.  The Electron Transport Chain is the final stage of cellular respiration. In this stage, energy being transported by NADH and FADH₂ is transferred to ATP.  In addition, oxygen acts as the final proton acceptor for the hydrogens released from all the NADH and FADH₂, forming water.  Figure 4.10.8 shows the reactants and products of the ETC.

Transporting Electrons

The Electron transport chain is the third stage of cellular respiration and is illustrated in Figure 4.10.8. During this stage, high-energy electrons are released from NADH and FADH₂, and they move along electron-transport chains on the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. An electron-transport chain is a series of molecules that transfer electrons from molecule to molecule by chemical reactions. Some of the energy from the electrons is used to pump hydrogen ions (H ) across the inner membrane, from the matrix into the intermembrane space. This ion transfer creates an electrochemical gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP.

As shown in Figure 4.10.8, the pumping of hydrogen ions across the inner membrane creates a greater concentration of the ions in the intermembrane space than in the matrix. This gradient causes the ions to flow back across the membrane into the matrix, where their concentration is lower. ATP synthase acts as a channel protein, helping the hydrogen ions cross the membrane. It also acts as an enzyme, forming ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate in a process called oxidative phosphorylation. After passing through the electron-transport chain, the “spent” electrons combine with oxygen to form water.

You have seen how the three stages of aerobic respiration use the energy in glucose to make ATP. How much ATP is produced in all three stages combined? Glycolysis produces two ATP molecules, and the Krebs cycle produces two more. Electron transport begins with several molecules of NADH and FADH₂ from the Krebs cycle and transfers their energy into as many as 34 more ATP molecules. All told, then, up to 38 molecules of ATP can be produced from just one molecule of glucose in the process of cellular respiration.

References

CrashCourse. (2012, March 12). ATP & Respiration: Crash Course Biology #7. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=00jbG_cfGuQ&feature=emb_logo

Betts, J. G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D.H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M., DeSaix, P. (2013, April 25). Figure 24.8 Electron Transport Chain [digital image]. In Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions (Section ). OpenStax.  https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/24-2-carbohydrate-metabolism

Betts, J. G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D.H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M., DeSaix, P. (2013, April 25). Figure 24.9 Carbohydrate Metabolism [digital image]. In Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions (Section 24.2). OpenStax.  https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/24-2-carbohydrate-metabolism

The Amoeba Sisters. (2014, October 22). Cellular Respiration and the Mighty Mitochondria. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eo7JtRA7lg&t=3s

Any reaction which requires or absorbs energy from its surroundings, usually in the form of heat.

The minimum energy required to cause a reaction to occur.

Created by CK-12 Foundation/Adapted by Christine Miller

Is this woman double jointed? No, there is actually no such thing — at least as far as humans are concerned. However, some people, like the woman pictured in Figure 11.6.1, are much more flexible than others, generally because they have looser ligaments. Physicians call this condition joint hypermobility. Regardless of what it’s called, the feats of people with highly mobile joints can be quite impressive.

Joints are locations at which bones of the skeleton connect with one another. A joint is also called an articulation. The majority of joints are structured in such a way that they allow movement. However, not all joints allow movement. Of joints that do allow movement, the extent and direction of the movements they allow also vary.

Joints can be classified structurally or functionally. The structural classification of joints depends on the manner in which the bones connect to each other. The functional classification of joints depends on the nature of the movement the joints allow. There is significant overlap between the two types of classifications, because function depends largely on structure.

Structural Classification of Joints

The structural classification of joints is based on the type of tissue that binds the bones to each other at the joint. There are three types of joints in the structural classification: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial joints.

1. Fibrous joints are joints in which bones are joined by dense connective tissue that is rich in collagen fibres. These joints are also called sutures. The joints between bones of the cranium are fibrous joints.
2. Cartilaginous joints are joints in which bones are joined by cartilage. The joints between most of the vertebrae in the spine are cartilaginous joints.
3. Synovial joints are characterized by a fluid-filled space (called a synovial cavity) between the bones of the joints. You can see a drawing of a typical synovial joint in Figure 11.6.2. The cavity is enclosed by a membrane and filled with a fluid (called synovial fluid) that provides extra cushioning to the ends of the bones. Cartilage covers the articulating surfaces of the two bones, but the bones are actually held together by ligaments. The knee is a synovial joint.

Functional Classification of Joints

The functional classification of joints is based on the type and degree of movement that they allow. There are three types of joints in the functional classification: immovable, partly movable, and movable joints.

1. Immovable joints allow little or no movement at the joint. Most immovable joints are fibrous joints. Besides the bones of the cranium, immovable joints include joints between the tibia and fibula in the lower leg, and between the radius and ulna in the lower arm.
2. Partly movable joints permit slight movement. Most partly movable joints are cartilaginous joints. Besides the joints between vertebrae, they include the joints between the ribs and sternum (breast bone).
3. Movable joints allow bones to move freely. All movable joints are synovial joints. Besides the knee, they include the shoulder, hip, and elbow. Movable joints are the most common type of joints in the body.

Types of Movable Joints

Movable joints can be classified further according to the type of movement they allow. There are six classes of movable joints: pivot, hinge, saddle, plane, condyloid, and ball-and-socket joints. An example of each class — as well as the type of movement it allows — is shown in Figure 11.6.3.

• A ball-and-socket joint allows the greatest range of movement of any movable joint. It allows forward and backward motion, as well as upward and downward movement. It also allows rotation in a circle. The hip and shoulder are the only two ball-and-socket joints in the human body.
• A pivot joint allows one bone to rotate around another. An example of a pivot joint is the joint between the first two vertebrae in the spine. This joint allows the head to rotate from left to right and back again.
• A hinge joint allows back and forth movement like the hinge of a door. An example of a hinge joint is the elbow. This joint allows the arm to bend back and forth.
• A saddle joint allows two different types of movement. An example of a saddle joint is the joint between the first metacarpal bone in the hand and one of the carpal bones in the wrist. This joint allows the thumb to move toward and away from the index finger, and also to cross over the palm toward the little finger.
• A plane joint (also called a gliding joint) allows two bones to glide over one another. The joints between the tarsals in the ankles and between the carpals in the wrists are mainly gliding joints. In the wrist, this type of joint allows the hand to bend upward at the wrist, and also to wave from side to side while the lower arm is held steady.
• A condyloid joint is one in which an oval-shaped head on one bone moves in an elliptical cavity in another bone, allowing movement in all directions, except rotation around an axis. The joint between the radius in the lower arm and carpal bones of the wrist is a condyloid joint, as is the joint at the base of the index finger.

Of all the parts of the skeletal system, the joints are generally the most fragile and subject to damage. If the cartilage that cushions bones at joints wears away, it does not grow back. Eventually, all of the cartilage may wear away. This causes osteoarthritis, which can be both painful and debilitating. In serious cases of osteoarthritis, people may lose the ability to climb stairs, walk long distances, perform routine daily activities, or participate in activities they love, such as gardening or playing sports. If you protect your joints, you can reduce your chances of joint damage, pain, and disability. If you already have joint damage, it is equally important to protect your joints and limit further damage. Follow these five tips:

1. Maintain a normal, healthy weight. The more you weigh, the more force you exert on your joints. When you walk, each knee has to bear a force equal to as much as six times your body weight. If a person weighs 200 pounds, each knee bears more than half a ton of weight with every step. Seven in ten knee replacement surgeries for osteoarthritis can be attributed to obesity.
2. Avoid too much high-impact exercise. Examples of high-impact activities include volleyball, basketball, and tennis. These activities generally involve running or jumping on hard surfaces, which puts tremendous stress on weight-bearing joints, especially the knees. Replace some or all of your high-impact activities with low-impact activities, such as biking, swimming, yoga, or lifting light weights.
3. Reduce your risk of injury. Don’t be a weekend warrior, sitting at a desk all week and then crowding all your physical activity into two days. Get involved in a regular, daily exercise routine that keeps your body fit and your muscles toned. Building up muscles will make your joints more stable, allowing stress to spread across them. Be sure to do some stretching every day to keep the muscles around joints flexible and less prone to injury.
4. Distribute work over your body, and use your largest, strongest joints. Use your shoulder, elbow, and wrist to lift heavy objects — not just your fingers. Hold small items in the palm of your hand, rather than by the fingers. Carry heavy items in a backpack, rather than in your hands. Hold weighty objects close to your body, instead of at arms’ length. Lift with your hips and knees, not your back.
5. Respect pain. If it hurts, stop doing it. Take a break from the activity — at least until the pain stops. Try to use joints only to the point of mild fatigue, not pain.

Attributions

Figure 11.6.1

Tags: Sports Gymnastics Fitness Woman Preparation by nastya_gepp on Pixabay is used under the Pixabay License (https://pixabay.com/de/service/license/).

Figure 11.6.2

Synovial_Joints by OpenStax College on Wikimedia Commons is used under a CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) license.

Figure 11.6.3

Types_of_Synovial_Joints by OpenStax College on Wikimedia Commons is used under a CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) license.

References

Betts, J. G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D.H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M., DeSaix, P. (2013, June 19). Figure 9.8 Synovial joints [digital image].  In Anatomy and Physiology (Section 9.4). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/9-4-synovial-joints

Betts, J. G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D.H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M., DeSaix, P. (2013, June 19). Figure 9.10 Types of synovial joints [digital image].  In Anatomy and Physiology (Section 9.4). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/9-4-synovial-joints

Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Osteoarthritis [online article]. MayoClinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925

TED-Ed. (2015, May 5). Why do your knuckles pop? - Eleanor Nelsen. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjiKUmfaZr4

TED-Ed. (2019, November 7). Why haven’t we cured arthritis? - Kaitlyn Sadtler and Heather J. Faust. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWsBm3hr3B0