Question

In human muscles, during intense exercise, oxygen intake is not adequate to keep up with oxygen consumption, and pyruvate is partially oxidized to lactate/lactic acid, producing a small amount of ATP. This process is called

a) fermentation.
b) anaerobic respiration.
c) aerobic respiration.
d) electron transport.
e) uncoupling.

Answer 1

During intense exercise, when oxygen intake is not adequate, human muscles perform anaerobic respiration, converting pyruvate into lactic acid to produce a small amount of ATP. This process allows glycolysis and ATP production to continue. Lactic acid is carried to the liver where it can be converted back into pyruvate or glucose.

Step-by-step explanation:

Anaerobic respiration is the process where pyruvate is partially oxidized to lactic acid in human muscles during intense exercise when oxygen intake is not adequate to meet oxygen consumption. This pathway produces a small amount of ATP and serves to keep glycolysis and ATP production ongoing. It occurs in most cells of the body when oxygen is limited or mitochondria are absent or nonfunctional. The lactic acid produced is carried to the liver where it can be converted back into pyruvate or glucose.