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Athletes will have to use anaerobic respiration when oxygen has been used up already.

Unit 2 - Anaerobic Respiration

This GCSE Biology quiz explores anaerobic respiration, how cells release energy without enough oxygen, and why it produces less energy than aerobic respiration.

Explore the Topic →

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Fascinating Fact:

Anaerobic respiration releases much less energy per molecule of glucose than aerobic respiration, because the glucose is not completely broken down.

In GCSE Biology, anaerobic respiration is studied as an alternative pathway for energy release. You learn when cells switch to this process, what products are formed, and how it compares with aerobic respiration.

Key Terms

Anaerobic respiration: Respiration that releases energy from glucose without using oxygen, producing less energy per molecule.
Lactic acid: A substance produced in muscles during anaerobic respiration in humans, which can cause fatigue and cramps.
Oxygen debt: The extra oxygen needed after exercise to break down lactic acid and restore normal conditions in the body.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is anaerobic respiration in GCSE Biology?

Anaerobic respiration is the release of energy from glucose without oxygen. In human muscles the word equation is glucose → lactic acid (+ energy).

When does anaerobic respiration happen in humans?

Anaerobic respiration happens during hard exercise when muscles need energy faster than the lungs and blood can supply oxygen, so cells temporarily switch to this pathway.

Why does anaerobic respiration release less energy?

It releases less energy because glucose is only partly broken down into lactic acid or ethanol. In aerobic respiration glucose is fully oxidised, so more energy is transferred.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Build up of lactic acid in muscles leads to cramps and what else?

Waste

Fatigue

Alcohol production

Nightmares

Very little energy is released during anaerobic respiration

2 .

What is broken down during anaerobic respiration?

Energy

Biomass

Glucose

Vitamin C

Glucose is the molecule which is broken down during respiration. Glycogen and starch can be broken down if needed to provide the glucose

3 .

Yeast cells undergo anaerobic respiration. Which of the following is a product of this?

Alcohol

Oxygen

Water

Light

This is the process of fermentation

4 .

When would athletes muscles have to use anaerobic respiration?

When oxygen has been used up already

When oxygen is in good supply

At the start of the race

During sleep

When operating at maximum effort, the body is unable to supply sufficient oxygen to the muscles for aerobic respiration

5 .

Which of the following undergoes anaerobic respiration?

The liver

The muscles

The eye

The pancreas

Muscles use up a lot of energy

6 .

Oxygen has to be paid back as a result of oxygen...

crisis

doubt

shortage

debt

This 'debt' is only paid off when all of the lactic acid has been oxidised and therefore removed from the muscles

7 .

The products in muscles respiring anaerobically are carbon dioxide and what else?

Amino acid

Fatty acid

Lactic acid

Sulfuric acid

Lactic acid is formed by the incomplete breakdown of glucose

8 .

During anaerobic respiration, the breakdown of glucose is...

incomplete

complete

indifferent

slow

Complete breakdown forms carbon dioxide and water, not lactic acid

9 .

Blood flow away from muscles helps to remove which of the following?

Oxygen

Lactic acid

Water

Energy

It removes other waste products, such as CO₂, from the muscle cells too

10 .

What does anaerobic mean?

Lots of energy

Lots of oxygen

Lack of oxygen

Lack of carbon dioxide

Anaerobic respiration is the last resort for muscles which need to keep on contracting but have very little oxygen

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Respiration

Author: Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)

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