Energy production in the absence of oxygen that results in the incomplete breakdown of carbohydrates into lactic acid. Also known as the glycolytic system.
Glycolysis is a several-step process whereby energy is produced by the breakdown of glucose. When glucose is broken down “aerobically,” the endpoint of glycolysis is pyruvic acid, also known as pyruvate. Pyruvate and its products can then continue to produce energy through a series of several metabolic reactions and pathways including the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, Krebs cycle, and the electron transport system.
Glycolysis is a several-step process whereby energy is produced by the breakdown of glucose. When glucose is down “anaerobically,” the endpoint of glycolysis is lactic acid, also known as lactate. Lactate is obtained by an anaerobic reaction catalyzed by lactic acid dehydrogenase, which converts pyruvate to lactate. Lactate that is produced in the muscle can diffuse into the bloodstream. This process has been implicated in the eventual production of fatigue, either by the drop in pH or by the lactate molecules directly. When exercise intensity decreases, the lactate can be converted back to glucose via gluconeogenesis. Refer to the entry for glycolysis for more information, including a diagram.
Metabolic process of breaking down carbohydrate in the absence of oxygen to produce energy (ATP).