Question 35
During deficiency of oxygen in tissues of human beings, pyruvic acid is converted into lactic acid in the
(a) Cytoplasm
(b) Chloroplast
(c) Mitochondria
(d) Golgi body
(a) Cytoplasm
Aerobic respiration requires oxygen, but during strenuous exercises, such as sprinting, oxygen is used up faster than it can be delivered to the muscle cells. Instead, ATP is produced anaerobically, with pyruvate being used as an oxidant instead of oxygen. Pyruvate itself is converted to lactic acid in the cytoplasm. This is a less efficient way of producing energy but can occur much more quickly.