Video Transcript
The lactic acid that builds up in
the body after anaerobic respiration is transported to the liver. What sugar does the liver convert
the lactic acid into?
The question is describing an
example of metabolism, which is the sum of all the chemical reactions that occur
within living organisms to maintain life. There are two main types of
metabolism: catabolism, which involves breaking down molecules to release energy
that is temporarily stored in the form of ATP, and anabolism, which involves the
input of energy supplied by ATP to construct larger molecules from smaller ones.
Let’s take a look at how our body
metabolizes lactic acid, which is a waste product that is formed in anaerobic
respiration.
Anaerobic respiration is an example
of a catabolic reaction, as glucose is broken down into lactic acid, a process that
produces some ATP. Anaerobic respiration occurs in the
absence of oxygen, such as when we are sprinting in a race and require energy but
are not inhaling enough oxygen for aerobic respiration. While this is useful as it provides
some energy when little oxygen is available, excessive anaerobic respiration can
lead to muscle cramps. So, the lactic acid that’s produced
needs to be converted into another form.
To do this, lactic acid is
transported to the liver after it is produced, where it can be metabolized through
either anabolic or catabolic pathways. If it is metabolized through the
anabolic pathway, this involves the input of ATP to form a sugar called glucose. The catabolic pathway breaks down
lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water.
Now, we have enough information to
answer the question. The sugar that the liver converts
lactic acid into is glucose.
