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GCSE Physical Education · key term
A substance produced during anaerobic energy release in working muscles; its build-up during intense exercise is associated with muscle fatigue and discomfort.
Used by AQA and OCR
Paper 1
A substance produced when glucose is broken down anaerobically in muscles.
A substance produced when glucose is incompletely broken down during anaerobic respiration in muscles.
Paper 1
A by-product of anaerobic energy release from glucose; its build-up during intense exercise is associated with muscle fatigue.
Revise: Aerobic and anaerobic exerciseAnaerobic breakdown of glucose produces lactic acid. During sustained intense work, its build-up is associated with fatigue, so the performer cannot maintain that intensity for long and may have to slow down or stop.
Learn both word equations exactly: oxygen is used in the aerobic process, while lactic acid is produced in the anaerobic process.
When explaining heavy breathing after exercise, link anaerobic respiration → lactic acid production → extra oxygen needed to remove lactic acid → repayment of oxygen debt.
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