Final answer:
The buildup of lactate in muscles creates an acidic environment that hampers the muscle's ability to break down glucose, leading to weakness. This prevents the overexertion of an organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The buildup of lactate in the muscles makes the muscle cells more acidic, which in turn hampers the ability of the muscle cells to break down glucose. This leads to weakness in the muscle and helps prevent the overexertion of an organism.
When an organism performs intense physical activity, it generates lactate as a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis. The accumulation of lactate in the muscles creates an acidic environment. This acidity inhibits the breakdown of glucose, reducing the availability of energy for muscle contraction.
The inability of the muscles to efficiently break down glucose limits their capacity to generate force and leads to muscle weakness. Consequently, the organism is prevented from overexerting itself and causing damage.