Chapter 8, Problem 16STP

Summary Introduction

To hypothesize:

The importance of raising the anaerobic threshold of some muscles for a competitive runner.

Introduction:

Cellular respiration may be aerobic or anaerobic. Aerobic respiration takes place in the presence of oxygen in the mitochondria and yields a large amount of energy whereas, anaerobic respiration occurs in absence of oxygen and yields very less amount of energy.

Explanation of Solution

Normally human body fulfils its energy requirement by aerobic respiration. But when energy is the requirement is more for example, during running a race, doing heavy exercises, aerobic respiration alone does not fulfil energy requirement, in such condition the body fulfils its required energy through anaerobic respiration in an oxygen-deficient environment. Thus, during running a race, muscle cells are smart and switch over to anaerobic respiration. During anaerobic respiration, your muscle cells use sugar to make ATP, but they don't use oxygen. This process produces lactate, which is quickly converted to lactic acid, which makes your muscles burn. Lactic acid, as you may have experienced, makes it harder to exercise.

Conclusion

In absence of sufficient oxygen during race competition, the muscle cells undergo anaerobic respiration to produce ATP.