13. Respiration and Energy Transfer - part 08 - Respiratory Quotient

 

13. Respiration and Energy Transfer - part 08 - Respiratory Quotient


Respiratory Quotient :

  • Ratio of volume of CO2 released to the volume of O2 consumed in respiration is called the respiratory quotient (RQ) or respiratory ratio. 
  • It depends on the type of respiratory substrate.
  • When carbohydrates are used as respiratory substrate and are completely oxidized, the RQ is 1, because volume of CO2 evolved is equal to volume of O2 consumed, as shown in the equation.


  • When fats or proteins are used as a substrate, the RQ is less than 1, as volume of CO2 evolved is always less than volume of O2 consumed.
  • Mostly for fats, RQ is about 0.7 and for proteins it is about 0.9
  • In case of anaerobic respiration RQ is always infinity as CO2 is evolved without taking O2.

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