Final answer:
During anaerobic respiration, lactic acid diffuses from muscles to the blood and is transported to the liver for metabolism. The liver uses the Cori cycle to convert lactic acid back to pyruvate, facilitating continued energy production under oxygen-limited conditions. This process temporarily compensates for the lower efficiency of anaerobic glycolysis compared to aerobic respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lactic acid that builds up during anaerobic respiration diffuses from high concentration in your muscle cells to a lower concentration in the blood plasma, and is ultimately transported to the liver. This process exemplifies a biological reaction where, under anaerobic conditions such as during intense exercise, muscle cells rely on glycolysis for ATP production, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid. The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing lactic acid through the Cori cycle, converting it back into pyruvic acid, which can then be used in the citric acid cycle or gluconeogenesis when oxygen is available.
In addition to maintaining ATP production, the purpose of lactic acid formation is to regenerate NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue producing energy. Yet, this anaerobic pathway is less efficient than aerobic respiration and is typically a temporal measure during periods when oxygen is scarce. Once the lactic acid is removed from the muscle and circulated to the liver, it can be reconverted to pyruvate and used for further energy generation, thus easing the oxygen debt accumulated during strenuous activities.