Anaerobic cellular respiration

Definition

Anaerobic cellular respiration is a form of respiration that occurs without oxygen. It involves the breakdown of glucose to produce energy and typically results in byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Anaerobic respiration occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
2. It generates only 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule, which is significantly less efficient than aerobic respiration.
3. During anaerobic respiration in muscles, lactic acid is produced, leading to muscle fatigue.
4. Yeast cells perform anaerobic respiration through fermentation, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide.
5. Anaerobic respiration is crucial for organisms that live in environments devoid of oxygen.

Review Questions

Related terms

Glycolysis:

The first step of both aerobic and anaerobic respiration where glucose is broken down into pyruvate.

Fermentation: A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Lactic Acid Fermentation: A type of fermentation that produces lactic acid from pyruvate, commonly occurring in muscle cells.