Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

Aerobic Respiration

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Anaerobic respiration is used if there is not enough oxygen.
When you do vigorous exercise and your body cannot supply you with enough oxygen to your muscles, they start doing anaerobic respiration as well as aerobic respiration.
"Anaerobic" respiration just means "without oxygen". It's the incomplete breakdown of glucose, making lactic acid.
Here is the word equation for anaerobic respiration in muscle cells is:
- glucose = lactic acid.
Anaerobic respiration does not fully transfer nearly as much energy as aerobic respiration. this is because the glucose isn't fully oxidised.

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So, anaerobic respiration is only useful in emergencies. e.g. during exercises when it allos you to keep on using your muscles for a while longer.
Anaerobic respiration in plants and yeast is slightly different.
Plants and yeast cells can respire without oxygen too, but they produce ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide instead of lactic acid.
here is the word equation for anaerobic respiration...
- glucose = ethanol + carbon dioxide.
Anaerobic respiration in yeast cells is called fermentation.
in the food and drinks industry, fermentation by yeast is of great value because it is used to make bread and alcoholic drinks.
in bread making, it's the carbon dioxide from fermentation that makes bread rise.
in beer and wine making, it's the fermentation process that produces the alcohol in the drinks.

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