Anaerobic respiration

• For a short period during vigorous exercise, the body's cells may not have enough oxygen
• Aerobic respiration cannot occur and anaerobic respiration happens instead
• Anaerobic respiration


  Glucose → Lactic acid
• Anaerobic respiration


  Releases less energy than aerobic respiration but it does this faster
• The product of anaerobic respiration is lactic acid
• Lactic acid builds up in muscles

  Causing pain and tiredness, which can lead to a cramp
• After vigorous exercise


  1. People continue to breathe deeply and quickly for a short period

  2. This is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption or EPOC

  3. Lactic acid reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water

  4. Releases the rest of the energy originally in the glucose
• EPOC


  Used to be called 'oxygen debt'