RESPIRATORY COMPOUND Meaning and
Definition
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A respiratory compound refers to a substance, usually a chemical compound, that is directly or indirectly involved in the process of respiration in organisms. Respiration, as a fundamental biological process, is the metabolic process by which organisms obtain energy from organic molecules and release waste products, mainly carbon dioxide and water.
Respiratory compounds are pivotal for the functioning of respiration in various organisms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms. In animals, the primary respiratory compound is oxygen, obtained through inhalation. Oxygen plays a vital role in the process of cellular respiration, which occurs within mitochondria, where organic molecules are broken down to release energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Carbon dioxide, the waste product of cellular respiration, is the main respiratory compound that needs to be eliminated from the body by expiration.
In plants, during photosynthesis, respiratory compounds such as carbon dioxide and oxygen interchange between the plant and the surrounding environment. Carbon dioxide is released as a byproduct of respiration in plant cells and is used during photosynthesis to produce glucose, providing energy for growth and development. Oxygen produced during photosynthesis is also a respiratory compound for the plant, used in its own respiration processes for energy production.
Respiratory compounds are crucial in sustaining life as they facilitate the exchange of gases necessary for efficient respiration, enabling organisms to obtain the energy required for various cellular activities and maintaining overall metabolic balance.
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• A complex c. resulting from the reaction of two more simple substances, with the splitting off of some other substance, such as alcohol or water.
• One formed by the union of two compounds and preserving more or less of the properties or characteristics of both.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for RESPIRATORY COMPOUND
Etymology of RESPIRATORY COMPOUND
The word "respiratory" has its origin in the Latin word "respirare", which means "to breathe". The word "compound" comes from the Latin word "componere", which means "to put together".
Therefore, the etymology of the term "respiratory compound" can be understood as follows:
1. "Respiratory" - Latin "respirare" (to breathe)
2. "Compound" - Latin "componere" (to put together)
When combined, the term "respiratory compound" refers to a chemical substance or compound that is related to or affects the process of breathing.
