During exercise, if insufficient oxygen is reaching the muscles they use anaerobic respiration to obtain energy.
Anaerobic respiration is the incomplete breakdown of glucose and produces lactic acid.
As the breakdown of glucose is incomplete, much less energy is released than during aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration results in an oxygen debt that has to be repaid in order to oxidise lactic acid to carbon dioxide and water.
If muscles are subjected to long periods of vigorous activity they become fatigued, i.e. they stop contracting efficiently. One cause of muscle fatigue is the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. Blood flowing through the muscles removes the lactic acid.
Comments
No comments have yet been made