Biology · Respiration. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.
Anaerobic respiration is the breakdown of glucose without using oxygen. The glucose is only partly broken down, so much less energy is released than in aerobic respiration, and energy stays locked in the products.
The products depend on the organism. Human muscle makes lactic acid only. Yeast makes ethanol and carbon dioxide.
During hard exercise the blood cannot bring oxygen to the muscles fast enough, so they also respire anaerobically and lactic acid builds up in the muscles and blood. After exercise, extra oxygen is needed to break this lactic acid down in the liver. This extra oxygen is the oxygen debt (EPOC).
Students write that human muscles make carbon dioxide or ethanol anaerobically. In humans the only product is lactic acid; ethanol and carbon dioxide are made by yeast.
Answer: About 4.0 dm3 of oxygen.
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